Jan 16 2009
Obesity is ’socially contagious’
Dania asked: Is it true that if your friend is chubby, you will turn one too?
Yes, you are at risk!
A research in the UK in 2007 proved that a person has nearly 60% higher chance of becoming obese if his friend is obese.
Another study, The Framingham Heart Study which is a longitudinal study looking at health also showed that obesity tends to cluster in social networks.
Bad diet, inadequate exercise, poor sleeping habits and smoking are all risk factors for obesity.
What’s more important is the way your friend thinks about obesity.
People generally come to think that it is okay to be bigger since those around them are bigger. Consciously or unconsciously, people do look at others when they are deciding how much to eat, how much to exercise and how much weight is too much.
Another study showed that women are more concerned about their weight as compared to men. Women are more conscious about the weight of women around them. So, if a woman is surrounded by slim women, she usually tries ways to reduce weight.
Other reasons are similar lifestyles such as diet, exercise or smoking.
The Framingham Heart Study also showed that similar effects were seem among siblings, where if one gained weight, another sibling is also likely to gain weight.
In general, closer friends have stronger impacts.
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