Thursday, July 26, 2007

The Obesity Epidemic

Why we are all getting fat.

Obesity appears to spread from one person to another like a virus or a fad, researchers reported yesterday in a first-of-its-kind study that helps explain -- and could help fight -- one of the nation's biggest public health problems.

The study, involving more than 12,000 people tracked over 32 years, found that social networks play a surprisingly powerful role in determining an individual's chances of gaining weight, transmitting an increased risk of becoming obese from wives to husbands, from brothers to brothers and from friends to friends.

(from The Washington Post)

Share

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

In the area where I live it is either in the water or from being around too many other overweight people, and it begins to be the 'norm' and OK. Even before any 'studies' I always thought it was "catching" in that we begin to think it is the norm and is OK. In the 2 years since I moved to the area where I live I gained 25 lbs!!!!, but have now lost 17.

elena maria vidal said...

Yes, there is something in the water....Maybe we can blame it on terrorists....

Anonymous said...

It's the power lines. Gosh, I thought everyone knew they toy with our appetite mechanism.
;-)

elena maria vidal said...

Ha, ha.....