How much of our lives have been wasted complaining about our muffin tops, water retention, cellulite, double chins and bingo arms? (Shake them dice!) Oh, and chubby...fingers? Well, it turns out that this kind of nit-picking and fat talk doesn't do a thing for your self-esteem.

In a new study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Northwestern University, nearly all of the 186 undergraduate women surveyed admitted to participating in fat talk with their friends. They found comfort in knowing that their friends shared their same body issues; however, the research data showed that fat talk led to more body discontentment. Not surprisingly, it was also found that most women don't believe their friends when they offer reassurance about their bodies.

A quarter of the women who practiced fat talk eventually started a diet or exercise program with one of their complaining partners, even though previous research suggests this negative partnership is a recipe for disaster. So, it turns out there's really no point in wasting your time in a self-loathing group setting. Who would have thought?