Fat is Contagious

3
Comments

The big health news this week is that fat is contagious. It seems that the data from a Framingham, MA (a place close to my heart) suggests this conclusion. Researchers found that people with fat friends were more likely to be fat themselves. Wired News has a bit of fun with this conclusion taking the stance that this obvious.

I share Wired’s view. It’s nothing new for people to associate with like people. I’m probably more likely to be an investment banker if I have investment banker friends. I’m more likely to be artistic if I have artistic friends. With weight, this seems even more likely to be since a lot of our social interaction has to do with eating.

So are you going to get rid of your friends as a weight loss measure? I think that’s a very extreme. Perhaps if you find that this study applies to you, you should have a contest to see who can lose the highest percentage of weight. If one friend does well, you should all benefit.

Featured Information

Posted by Lazy Man on July 27, 2007 in News.

3 Responses to “Fat is Contagious”

Blaine Moore (Run to Win) Says:
July 27th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Personally, I think that what they have to say is ridiculous. Being obese is not a contagious disease, it is a lifestyle choice. You generally can’t catch it.

I do think that having obese friends is more likely to cause you to become obese. After all, if their idea of a good time is to go to McDonalds, then you are more likely to get fat than if they go out and play golf or a pickup game of basketball.
Chief Family Officer Says:
July 28th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I agree that you’re more likely to spend time with people who are like you. Exercise/sports aren’t really my thing so the advice to “get a workout buddy” isn’t that easy for me to implement b/c my friends aren’t into them either
WeightLadder.com Says:
July 28th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
F!!! that!!! Lead the charge!!! I fully intend to show how to lose serious weight: http://www.weightladder.com