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Is
gaining weight contagious?
Sept. 27, 2007
Suzanne Havala Hobbs
For
a clue about why you can’t lose that last ten pounds,
consider the company you keep.
There’s increasing evidence that our social networks
– families, friends and coworkers – have a lot
of influence over whether we gain or lose weight. In fact,
a study published over the summer in the New England Journal
of Medicine suggests that social ties may account, at least
in part, for the spread of obesity in a person-to-person fashion,
much like the spread of a contagious disease.
Researchers analyzed data on more than 12,000 people who took
part in the Framingham Heart Study. They found distinct clusters
of obese people within certain social circles, even after
controlling for reasons that obese people might selectively
gather.
Who increases your chances of gaining excess weight?
* Obese friends. Weighty friends increase by 57 percent your
chance of gaining weight yourself. One theory is that people
might be influenced by the norms in their tight social circles.
If my friend is big, it’s OK for me to be big, too.
* Oversized siblings. If you are female and have an obese
sister, your chance of gaining weight is greater than if it’s
your brother who is obese. One theory holds that we may be
influenced more greatly by those we resemble than those we
don’t. In both friends and siblings, your likelihood
of gaining weight is greatest if that person and you are the
same sex, according to the study.
* Sizable spouses. If your spouse grows, you’re more
likely to increase in size, too, the study found. The effect
isn’t as great, though, as the effect our friends have
on our weight, especially same-sex friends.
Researchers found that the intensity of the social ties was
more important than physical closeness.
Overweight neighbors living nearby, for example, had no effect
on weight, and the influence of family and friends on weight
persisted even across the miles.
The power of the people in your life doesn’t have to
be all bad. Harness the influence of your social ties and
use it to your advantage. Some possibilities:
* Weight loss groups. The study suggests a reason for the
relatively high success of groups such as Weight Watchers
in helping people lose weight. If you want to lose weight,
consider joining a group of people – formal or informal
– who share the same goal of controlling their weight.
* Exercise classes. Groups of people who meet regularly to
practice yoga, Pilates, aerobic dance, and other forms of
exercise are likely to help each other in maintaining a higher
level of activity and keeping off the pounds. Casual groups
of like-minded people can be good support, too. Walk with
coworkers at lunchtime or walk dogs with your neighbors.
* Outdoor clubs. Consider joining a group devoted to hiking,
skiing, bike riding, kayaking, bird watching or any other
outdoor activity that entails physical activity.
* Healthy-eating cooking classes. Be with people who share
your concern for eating good-tasting food that also supports
health. Best bets are classes held at natural foods stores,
where the emphasis is on dishes made from low-calorie fruits,
vegetables, beans and whole grains, minimally processed and
close to their natural state.
Of course, if group dynamics can work for the good, they can
also foil good intentions for weight loss. Think twice –
or least be aware of the pitfalls – about regularly
participating in groups whose activities run counter to good
health. Popular gourmet clubs and hobbies where eating and
sitting figure prominently – such as playing Bridge
or watching sports at bars – come to mind.
Remember the power of the people in your life, and use the
influence of those relationships to help you – and them
– reach weight and health goals.
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