Can you catch obesity?

A new study says, yes

According to a recent study published by The New England Journal of Medicine, obesity is “socially contagious”. Meaning? Much like a virus, weight gain can spread from person to person, and if a close friend is obese, your own risk of becoming obese rises by 57 per cent.

What the….?

How is it possible to 'catch' weight gain the same way we catch the flu or an STI? Shouldn’t the responsibility for our bodies lie with the hand that feeds us? It’s not like our friends are spiking our salads with Krispy Kremes. 

The problem is more than just food choices.

“I think the issue is size perception”, says dietician Karen Inge. “With 60 per cent of Aussies overweight or obese, it becomes the norm, and it seems more acceptable to be bigger.

"If you’re a big person, surrounded by bigger friends, that makes you ‘feel’ thinner and you have a false sense of security – even though it may not be healthy for you."
               
So what can we do to keep a healthy outlook if we do have an overweight friend? (Because seriously, it’s not Milan – we won’t slap a ban on someone and de-friend them if they don’t meet a certain BMI). “If you’re in an environment with overweight friends, take the leadership role,” says Inge. Her advice? Choose healthier options (such as Japanese over Mexican) when eating out as a group, suggest a walk after seeing a movie, encourage friends to take up Pilates or dancing with you, and always be aware of your own portion size – just because others may be eating more doesn’t mean it should trigger you to.