For years I have talked and written that since 65% of the US population is overweight it is abnormal to be at a healthy weight. In our country, being normal is to be fat and that makes weight-loss even more difficult. (See Becoming Slender For Life)
Today, The New England Journal of Medicine published a study funded by the National Institute on Aging showing that if you have friends or family members who are overweight, the chances are that you will be too. In fact, the study found that your chance of becoming obese went up 57% if a friend is obese, 40% if a sibling is and 37% if your spouse is. In the closest friendships, the chances almost tripled.
August 10, 2007
In this mornings Seattle PI there is a great editorial referencing this study by John Barnett titled “Use Your Friends for Weight Loss“. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/327029_fat.html
