Talk of friends carrying weight. They can give you skinny flu or be the ones to inspire all that flab. For, a new research says that teenagers' weight is directly proportional to that of their friends

We thought weight was proportionate to height. But going by a new study, your weight could be in direct proportion to that of your pals. A study, published in the September issue of the Journal of Health Economics, has found that friends' weight is correlated to an adolescent's own weight even after considering demographics, smoking status, birth weight, and household characteristics such as parental obesity.

For Prabhjot Kaur, a homemaker from Sector 61 and mother of an 11-year-old girl, says, "Friends can actually influence kids in more ways than the behaviour. More so in case of the teens, who want to do everything like their friends. Be it clothes, eating out in a restaurant, going out and visiting places or following their way of talking and walking. And yes, weight-related choices hold true of teens, including food patterns, diets and physical activity. Peers also affect the teens' perception of an acceptable weight. If a friend is slim, that would surely influence a kid. On the other hand, if he/she is fat they would go easy on weight."

The research also found that the peer effect on weight was the strongest among females and among adolescents who were at risk of becoming overweight.

"I am not sure about the weight effect. But kids spend a lot of time with their friends and they definitely influence each other in many ways other than studies," says Atul Khanna, Director, Strawberry Fields.

"My eight year old is all the time talking about her friends. And why not, kids spend so much time with their pals that they are definitely under the spell of their friends. When friends can affect their likes and dislikes about food, why not on weight-related issues. Kids in their teens relate more to friends than parents, so I am sure they can influence a kid to gain or lose weight," says Aditi Srivastava, CEO, Flying Cats.

While the study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the research has also indicated that peers may help adolescents lose weight too. "Kids have a better understanding with their friends and under peer influence, they surely fare well," says Reena Singh, teacher at St Kabir.

Talking about the influence, she says, "Friends definitely carry weight. Kids always try to match up to their associates, be it studies, or looking good, they want to brush up on wherever they are lacking. And if a friend is looking smart and lean they would surely want to look the same."

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

Trying hard to lose those extra kilos and love handles? Well, don't question your determination for the diet plan or exercise routine, as the real culprit behind your being overweight could be your husband. Yeah, that's right. According to health experts, a husband is more of a hindrance than help in his wife's battle with the bulge.

Well, considering the fact that post-marriage you have not only your husband but sometimes his family to consider too while preparing food. And it gets worse once you have children. Suddenly, you find yourself constantly thinking about food---buying, cooking, fixing snacks and meals for different times of the day. Agrees Smita Sharma, a government employee and a mother of two : "Preparing wholesome meal for my kids and husband leaves me no time to prepare some low-cal food for myself. I only get to have a proper breakfast on Sundays." Some sacrifice, considering that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Another reason for women to gain weight post marriage is lack of time for exercise. "Dieting or exercising isn't instant. Maintaining an ideal wieght needs time and with the kind of lifestyle women have, juggling between their career, kids and husband, it’s difficult to stay in shape," feels Kiran Khanna, an employee with IBM. Women also tend to overeat in the company of their husband and kids. Call it the pleasure of a family dinner or the thought of wasting that ounce of dal or sabzi, but women eat it all, appetite or no appetite.

With all the logic put in place, sometimes a husband can unconsciously encourage his wife to remain fat. The reasons could be insecurity of his relationship or to keep his woman's ambitions down. If he's the kind who isn't prepared to put a lot of effort into the marriage, then it will be much easier for him to keep her fat than happy.

Whatever the reason be, if your husband is not the motivation behind your keeping fit, then he certainly is the disincentive behind it!

The Revlon revolution is about to get a setback as coloured threads have caught Gen Y's fancy, writes Harsimrat Kaur

If you want to lend a new look to your tresses, you need not visit those swanky salons. If there is a will, there are ways. Let us tell you how and where.

But first thing first. Fashion today means mix and match, be it bangles, studs, purses, belts and even hair colour.

Well, mama told us not to go for hair colour as it can harm the tresses. True! But one can still give a shimmering look to it without using chemicals like ammonia. Can you make a guess? We are talking of hair braiding.

Braiding will add zing to your look without causing any harm. So, if you want an image makeover, that too without burning a hole in your pocket. All you have to do is make a visit to Sandy in Sector 17. We catch him in his makeshift braiding salon there.

"I braid the hair by weaving threads along with it," says Sandy. He brings the threads from Delhi. "Earlier, I used plain threads, but now I have brought new glossy ones that look stunning on black hair. These simmering threads are used along with plain ones for a stylish look," he adds.

"My art is getting popular as my clientele has grown considerably," says Sandy. Braiding with plain threads cost Rs 35, but the glossy, simmering thread cost about Rs 50.

"Braiding can do wonders to your hair. It is something new for the city but has become quite popular. I wanted to try it out for the stylish look," says Diya, a student of Home Science College -10.

"My favourite colour is black and red complements it. So, I went for red and silver threads to highlight my hair," she adds. "Braiding is cool. It is temporary and safe," says Kritika, another student of Home Science College-10.

"I am going for braiding, as it looks cool. Pink is my favourite colour, so I have opted for pink thread. But in this rainy season, one can also go for blue and black threads," she adds.

Braiding lasts for a week. You can even open its knot before a week, if you are bored of it. It is washable and even comfortable.

Ekta, a student of Home Science College, says, "I want to get my hair braided to follow the spirit of gang of girls --- a dress code of our group."

While Puniya, too, wants to follow the dress code of her group. For Srishti, also a student of Home Science College, braiding gives a fresh new look to her personality.

So, if you are wearing your favourite dress tonight, make it look complete with by going for matching braid.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• w Do I want small or large dog, what is the space I have for this puppy when it becomes an adult.
• w Coat type for shedding. If you have allergies stay away from long-coated dogs.
• w Grooming. What type of coat to you have the time for grooming or the expense of sending the puppy to the groomer.
• w Activity level. How active is your lifestyle? Are you a couch potato and want a dog that likes to cuddle. Or are you active and want a dog to go hiking?
• w Temperament. Are you looking for a friendly dog or a protective dog? Or a combination of both.
• w Finally, the most important thing is training. Will you have time for this puppy? This puppy will have to go to obedience school or sessions. Mind it, training plays an important role in your puppy's life. A trained dog is a pleasure, while an untrained dog can make your life hell. Do you have time to participate in the training sessions. Do you have time to invest in the puppy? You will get out of your puppy what you put into it. We all want Canine Good Citizens.

The writer can be contacted at shivkaushal@yahoo.com

For all the aspiring Romeos struggling to attract their Juliets, help is at hand, courtesy an all-in-one guide that provides tips for romance, from the first act of chivalry right through to the wedding day. The Debrett's Guide for the Modern Gentleman has everything from what to say and how to say it, when and how to make the first move.

When making your first move, remember the old-fashioned chivalry is still much appreciated by the fairer sex. Holding the door and being prepared to pay for the meal are a given. Giving up your seat isn't necessary for those looking for love - unless you are trying to attract a pregnant or elderly lady.

Your conversation has to be a fine balance between talking and listening. Avoid talking about the three principal passions killers: money, illness or death.

First date rules include drinks or lunch, that way having to avoid wasting an evening if you hate each other. Compliment her and if all's gone well, try to kiss her.

Take a bouquet of flowers with you, but remember, mixed bouquets can look cheap if not a decent size. Bulk up the flowers with greenery to make a nice present.

Blind dates should be avoided, but if you find one, stick around for at least two drinks. An early departure is 'humiliating and ungentlemanly.

For those dating online, don't fall into the temptation of trying to be funny with your profile picture. Use a flattering one, but make sure it is realistic. Chat up lines are no substitute for eye contact and good humour.

When planning to pop up the question timing, location and confidence are all things you should prepare. Get down on one knee, she'll love it. — ANI

Nurses Day Out: Girls of NITE freak out at their freshers’ party in the city on Wednesday Photo: Parvesh Chauhan

The students and staff of National Institute of Technical Education had a fun-filled day as the older batch of nurses who are going to USA welcomed the fresh batch in a party held at Hotel Regency-35 today. The occasion called for twin celebrations as the institute celebrated success of candidates who completed the course and also welcomed a new batch.

The nurses presented various items— songs, skits, solo dances, gidhdha and bhangra.

G. K. Kaushal and R. S. Gautam, directors of the institute talked about the enormous opportunities available overseas. The institute also felicitated nurses Mandeep Kaur Dhillon, Raspreet Kaur and Lakhvir Laur who recently cleared NCLEX, a mandatory exam for nurses to get permit to work in USA.

During the day that was filled with festivities also saw senior nurses sharing tricks of the trade with the freshers.

The young talented director Rohit Shetty, son of late fight master Shetty ,started as assistant director to Kuku Kohli in Phool Aur Kaante. He debuted as director with Zameen and gave laugh riot Golmaal and romantic comedy thriller Sunday. Now he is coming up with a sequel to Golmaal in a multi-starrer comedy Golmaal Returns.

What prompted you to make a sequel Golmaal Returns?

Writer Neeraj Vora approached me with a very interesting script for the sequel. So I thought of giving it a shot.

Is Ajay Devgan lucky for you?

He certainly is. He is a brilliant actor, and he has been a part of my films - from Zameen to Sunday.

Tell us about Golmaal Returns.

It is a refreshing film. There are some sequences where the viewers can see people coming from part one into part two.

Is Kareena Kapoor going to add some spice to the flick?

Yes, Kareena being part of the film will provide the zest to the movie. She plays a woman besotted with Ekta Kapoor. She shines in the comic role.

Shreyas Talpade says this is another film with lot of scope for performance.

Shreyas Talpade is one of the best actors in our industry. He will be something to watch out for in the movie.

Why you have retained Anjana Sukhani?

Anjana Sukhani is a good actress. She was part of my film Sunday. She is the surprise of the film.

What are the additions in the sequel?

Shreyas Talpade replaces Sharman Joshi. We also have Kareena Kapoor, Celina Jaitley and Amrita Arora.

Do you think that Golmaal Returns will bring back the Golmaal' glory?

It is a proper cinematic journey. It will definitely live up to the expectations of the audience.

— Dharam Pal

Ashok Amritraj and Anil Ambani’s first co-production The Other End of the Line is set for an October 31 release

Indian-American producer Ashok Amritraj and Anil Ambani's Reliance Entertainment will unveil their first film under a unique five-year co-production deal - a comedy The Other End of the Line, on Oct 31.

The film stars Jesse Metcalfe of Desperate Housewives and Shriya who recently starred opposite Rajnikant in the Indian blockbuster Sivaji: The Boss. Shot in Mumbai and San Francisco, it also features Anupam Kher.

"It has a lot of songs... American and Indian, though no dances," Amritraj said. Sharing the larger vision on what had led to the pact between his Hyde Park Entertainment and Reliance Entertainment, the former tennis ace-turned film producer said he had never dealt with an Indian or an Asian group before, although he has made 98 films in Hollywood over the past quarter of a century. "Reliance were looking for investing and I was looking to blend the world. So it made a lot of sense." The Other End of the Line is the story of an Indian credit card phone operator (Shriya) who travels to San Francisco, disguising herself as American, for a romantic liaison with a man (Metcalfe) she met through her work.

Upon her arrival, however, she decides to keep her true identity a secret, which threatens to dampen the sparks between her and her potential beau.

The Hyde Park promoter said he was intending to build a global cultural bridge across Asia, India, the Middle East and America. "It felt like the right move," he said. Reliance Entertainment, he said, was one such group his Hyde Park Entertainment was working with for financing his independent productions - but in India it is the only one.

About the making of his latest film, Amritraj recalled that about five years ago he had talked with Tracey Jackson, an actress-turned-screenwriter for MGM, who wanted to develop something that could be shot in India. Jackson had written The Guru, the story of a dance instructor from India who dreams of coming to America and becoming a big star. But during the long development process, MGM was sold to Sony in April 2005 and the product was put on hold for some time before he decided himself to do the film, with MGM as distributors. Partly shot in India, the film was developed largely in America. — IANS

Futuristic and flamboyant designer Manish Arora will showcase his Circus collection, complete with clown pants, voluminous jackets and ruffled skirts, during the grand finale of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) in Delhi on Oct 19.

The Manish Arora Circus will interpret the drama of a circus in his own signature style. "The (fashion week) grand finale has always set new benchmarks in creativity and this year, Arora will take the same tradition forward and create magic on the ramp in his signature style," Wills Lifestyle's divisional chief executive Atul Chand announced at a press conference.

Elaborating on his collection, Arora said: "I feel that Circus is a part of everybody's life. The way we live our life these days is like a circus - entertaining and hilarious." "I do not know what prompted me to come up with the theme, but it will have all the elements of a circus like acrobats. It will also have my signature style," he added.

"It is a common theme, not something out of the box. All my themes are closely associated with life," he explained.

The colour palette will be loaded with pinks, blues, purple and greens - his signature colours.

The line will have short dresses, mini skirts, trousers, voluminous jackets, ruffled skirts and dresses as well as pieces largely inspired from circus costumes like clown pants, bra tops, multiple bows and jump suits. The collection will explore innovative techniques of embroidery like hand-sewn appliqué, digitally printed sequin and traditional Indian gota embroidery.

Speaking on the occasion, WIFW organiser Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) president Sunil Sethi, said: "Arora is a perfect example of excellence in design and clothing construction. We are proud to have him present the grand finale this time.”

The Indian Cricket League (ICL) Tuesday unveiled its indigenous cheerleaders' squad ICL Zeebras that will be led by Bollywood oomph star Rakhi Sawant as its "Queen Cheerleader". The squad will be present at every match of the second season of the league that begins at Hyderabad Oct 10, an ICL statement said.

"Cheerleading is not just tamasha (mindless drama). It is a sport by itself. Until now, it was the exclusive domain of the international cheerleading troupes. But, thanks to ICL, this country will now have an indigenous cheerleaders' squad," Sawant said in the statement. The ICL Zeebra squad comprises eight other cheerleaders - Ritika, Preeti, Jessica, Geeta, Richa, Sharvari, Jayshree and Sangeeta. They will perform across all the match venues of Gurgaon, Panchkula, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

Sawant has personally auditioned and hand-picked the squad members and their performances will be designed by a Mumbai-based choreographer.

"It was after my performance at Panchkula during ICL's Season 1, that I saw a huge opportunity for a possible Indian cheerleading squad," the actress said.

"That dialogue resumed a few months later and culminated in the formation of the ICL Zeebras. I can't wait to don my Zeebra outfit and break into a jig every time Rohan (Gavaskar) or Raviraj (Patil) hits a six. I am sure, this will be one cheerleading squad that the country will remember for a long time," she added.

Shariq Patel, ICL's senior vice president (Marketing & Operations), said: "Cheerleaders have a significant role to play in the modern context of sports. The ICL Zeebras squad includes some extremely talented and graceful dancers. I am confident that this synergistic initiative between cricket and entertainment will formulate a completely new experience for sports fans of the country.

Bollywood actor Rahul Bose and Hollywood diva Scarlett Johansson, who are global ambassadors for Oxfam, shared some warm moments at an event in New York. The Indian actor praised the Girl With A Pearl Earring star for her commitment and sincerity to the cause.

Both work to raise funds for Oxfam's Health and Education For All campaign.

"It is easy to just lend your name to a cause and forget about it. The real test is to actually execute your presence and to see that the funds are actually used for that particular cause. I admire Scarlett and several other celebrities for that," Rahul said.

A short film made by Rahul on the street kids of India was also screened at the event, said a statement release.

"The short film is about street kids and a very factual projection of the children who do not have access to health and education in India," said Rahul.

"India has around 836 million poor people and the worst maternal and infant mortality rates, plus the largest number of people without any access to education," he added.

Rahul added that Scarlett and he will urge the governments of other countries to allocate an increased proportion of their annual budget to provide essential services to the people.

Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organisations working with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. — IANS

I am a 28-year-old girl studying medicine and hoping to be a doctor soon. I was married five years ago but walked out due to an abusive relationship. I decided to continue with my medical studies that I had given up half way due to my marriage. Now, I am in love with a married man with children who is willing to forsake his wife and family for me. The idea of dealing with his grown up kids is stressing me out. I have not yet told my parents about the relationship and I have no clue about their reaction. I am a very insecure girl and need someone to look after me. This man who's almost my father's age provides me much-needed security. Please guide me how to tell my family or should I go for a quiet marriage with him.

Rewa Pasricha
Chandigarh

Well, this is a rather tacky scenario. What makes you so sure that this man is willing to give up his family and marry you? You're a young girl at the threshold of a fabulous career and no strings attached what more could one want? I think you really need to re-think your whole situation all over again. Look within and see how high is your level of insecurity that it is driving you into a marriage situation with a much older, much married father of grown up kids. You must first deal with your internal insecurity. Once you have come to terms with that you will naturally find the correct solution to your problems. It is imperative that you go to a personal counselor for a few sessions, it will bring move clarity and steadfastness into your life. Before you even tell your parents, I think you ought to sort it within yourself, If you still feel the same way, then go ahead.

I am a 32-year-old businessman in love with this 25-year-old girl who has just picked up a new job in the bank. She is smart, bright, intelligent and attractive. We have been dating for about 2 years now. We had a formal engagement ceremony and the date for the wedding is fixed. She has just found out that I had a relationship with someone before and was recently chatting with her. Now, she suddenly refuses to marry me and is sulking. I have apologized many a times and begged for her forgiveness. She says she needs time to think. She feels I might betray her after marriage. I am completely involved with her, very possessive and cannot tolerate anyone even looking at her. How can I win her back? I am so insecure that she might just leave me and go.

Rajesh Kumar
Yamunanagar

Love has strange ways of behaving. Whatever happened in your life before you met your fiancé is really not her concern but yes if you are cheating on her now she definitely has reason to feel agitated. Relationships are all about mutual trust and respect for each other. If we haven't learnt that, then we are on the losing scale. Of course your fiancée is overreacting a little and perhaps playing a bit on your emotional psyche. If you will continue to bend backwards things will not sort out very soon. Are you guilty of something? Why are you apologizing so much? Allow her the space and the freedom to think and come to a firm decision. Every girl has her own apprehensions before her marriage. Make her feel loved and wanted as an individual and not a possession I am sure you can win her heart all over again.