Is loneliness as bad for you as smoking?

This podcast episode explores the health risks of social disconnection and the relationship between social connection and mortality. It discusses the findings of a meta-analysis conducted by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, which revealed that social disconnection is a significant predictor of earlier mortality and death. Furthermore, it highlights the risks associated with feeling lonely, social isolation, and living alone, comparing the increased risk of early death to that of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.