MCOL Blog

Obesity --the Social Connection

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Harvard, published a new study in the July 26, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that shows our social network of friends is perhaps a more important indicator than genes of whether or not we become obese. The study analyzed whether weight gain in one person was associated with weight gain in his or her friends, siblings, spouse, and neighbors and assessed 12,067 people over a period of 32 years from 1971 to 2003 that participated in the landmark Framingham Heart Study. 

Their findings did indeed show a strong social connection, which may help to explain the rapid rise of obesity over the recent decades.  Highlights:

• Over the last 25 years, the incidence of obesity among U.S. adults has more than doubled, shooting from 15 to 32 percent.
• The prevalence of obesity has increased from 23% to 31% over the recent past in the United States
• 66% of adults are overweight
• If a person you consider a friend becomes obese, then your own chances of becoming obese go up 57%
• Among mutual friends, the effect is even stronger, with chances increasing 171%
• Among siblings, if one becomes obese, the likelihood for the other to become obese increases 40%
• Among spouses, 37%.

Given that so much past effort has focused more on the clinical side of finding genetic clues to help explain rising obesity trends, this new study will undoubtedly lead to new and hopefully more effective weight management programs and intervention efforts with our family and friends serving as our key support system within our communities to help curb obesity trends.