A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine contends that obesity is "socially contagious." Simply put, people who have friends that are obese are more likely to be overweight themselves.
James Fowler of the University of California, San Diego, was one of the study's authors. "We were stunned to find that friends who are hundreds of miles away have just as much impact on a person's weight status as friends who are right next door," he told The Associated Press.
According to the research, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging, a person's chances of becoming obese went up 57 percent if he/she had overweight friends. The likelihood weight would increase in relation to the closeness of a relationship.
The study found that, on average, when an obese person gains 17 pounds, a corresponding friend will put on five extra pounds. Weight increases were more pronounced in cases of same-sex friendships. A person's risk of obesity increased by 71 percent if a close, same-sex friend gained weight.
Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a Harvard sociologist and lead author of the report, said the study's findings suggest group treatment may be preferable to an individual approach.
"Because people are interconnected, their health is interconnected," he said.
Discussion Questions: What is your reaction to the findings of this research? What do the findings suggest for retailers looking to help improve the health of overweight workers and consumers?