> Chronic loneliness is linked to mental health issues like depression and anxiety, as well as physical health problems, including weakened immunity, cardiovascular disease, and an increased risk of mortality.

A lot of pshycologists make that claim but I haven't found any compelling studies that prove it. Depression and axiety is understandable because we're social animals but the physical aspect isn't convincing unless the socially isolated person is lying around in bed doing drugs and eating unhealthy food all day. In that case instead of loneliness, we should blame drug abuse. It's unclear whether drug use is causing social isolation or if the latter is causing drug use.

All the studies I've seen so far have weak evidence and most of them don't address confounding factors. I'm no scientist but I'd appreciate if someone could point to studies with strong evidence about this claim.

> the physical aspect isn't convincing unless the socially isolated person is lying around in bed doing drugs and eating unhealthy food all day. In that case instead of loneliness, we should blame drug abuse.

It's important to remember that "linked to" does not mean "causes"

You are saying "we should blame the drug abuse and not the loneliness" but "linked to" doesn't imply blame at all already

Just guessing here, but if you're depressed you're much less likely to take your health seriously. It's also much easier to abuse drug when you're lonely - look at drug use among the homeless.

Certainly, if I took away your friends and family I would expect your health to decline.

Depression and anxiety cause elevated cortisol levels which cause all kinds of physically measurable issues.