If you were dealt a bad genetic hand, your fate was to be fat and overweight. New information shows that this might not be the case. Be very careful who you befriend as it may cause you to become overweight. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the obesity epidemic could spread like a virus through social networks. When a person becomes overweight, his friends and siblings are likely to gain weight as well in the long run.

The researchers evaluated a network of over twelve thousand people who underwent repeated measurements over a period of over thirty years. They found that when a person becomes obese, the chances that a friend will become obese increase by about fifty seven percent. Siblings of obese people have a forty percent increased risk of obesity, and their spouse’s risk increased by thirty seven percent overall.

On average, having an obese friend made a person gain 17 pounds, which put many people over the body mass index (BMI) measure for obesity. Female friendships did not seem to be impacted by obesity. But the chances that a man might gain weight from having a fat pal doubled for so-called mutual friends — friends who both listed each other as buddies.

Dr. Nicholas Christakis, the study’s lead author stated that there is an important implication here for a broadening perspective on treatment for obesity. Attitudes are changing about what constitutes an acceptable body size in both men and women. “We don’t think that this is the only cause of obesity. This is adding one additional factor or explanation.”

One big question raised by the study was, “why didn’t having obese friends affect the women’s weight?” “There is a strong social bias for women towards thinness,” said Dr. Robert Kushner, President of the American Board of Nutrition Physician Specialists. “Social norms may trump social networks here. Guys don’t have the same social pressure. Men may be more influenced by their friends.”

Other diet experts agree that the inner workings of male friendships may have a lot to do with obesity. “Current social stigma against obesity is greater among women than men. Women jointly discuss weight and support each other in dieting and exercising,” said Jeffery Sobal, a Professor of Nutritional Science at Cornell University. “Men may engage in joint activities that increase weight, such as consuming more calories or spending time in sedentary activities.”

And here’s something interesting reported by researcher James Fowler of Harvard University and Nicholas Christakis of the University of California in the city of San Diego. They say it is plausible that areas of the brain that correspond to actions such as eating food may be stimulated if these actions are observed by others.

They say that obesity and being overweight is socially contagious. he researchers found that to be true even if your loved ones live hundreds of miles away. Social ties seem to play a surprisingly strong role, even more than genes are known to do. “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,” said Dr Fowler.

Despite their findings, the researchers said people should not sever their relationships. “There is a ton of research that suggests that having more friends makes you healthier,” Fowler said. “So the last thing that you want to do is get rid of any of your friends.” Clearly, this study shows the importance of behavior in weight gain overshadowing genetic make-up. For more information about weight gain and weight loss, visit New Century Spine Centers in San Diego. They can be contacted at 619-630-9153.

Learn more about obesity. Stop by New Century Spine Centers where you can find out all about diet and what it can do for you.

Regular exercise in moderation is essential. It burns calories. This promotes weight loss. And it makes a body look good overall, inside and out. The payoff is a leaner, more attractive body, with a lower risk of coronary heart disease. However, physical activity by itself may not be enough to lose weight to look and feel better. For best results, it should be combined with a reduced calorie plan, calculated to match an individual’s new physical activity level.

Rapid weight loss can be very encouraging at first, but long term results are quite disappointing for many. The lost weight is mostly water at first. However, it rapidly returns, besides diets too low in calories quickly lower the body’s metabolic rule. This makes it even harder to lose weight and much easier to get it back. This creates a “yo-yo” diet syndrome. More fat is lost when the rate of weight loss is about two pounds per week. The number of calories needed to achieve this varies for each person and should be determined on an individual and unique basis.

There are immediate benefits to consuming the right number of calories. First of all, it helps to avoid being hungry, feeling fatigue and grouchiness that so often accompany deprivation of food. It supplies the energy needed to physical exercise. Trying to physical exercise on a very low caloric nutritional diet is like starving yourself twice – it leads to further reduction of lean body tissue. It helps ensure that nutritional needs are met. This is especially important over an extended period of time.

Another important thing to consider is to choose the correct foods. Many body weight reduction nutritional diets encourage avoiding carbohydrates (starchy foods), the body’s primary source of fuel. Such nutritional diets promote rapid reduction of body water for a few weeks. But this can lead to a discouraging body weight plateau, followed by body weight gain from water and sodium retention once carbohydrates are eaten again. A healthy mix of foods, high in complex carbohydrates and low in fat, sugar and alcohol gives the individual the most for their calories plus a higher energy level and better nutrition.

Lifelong weight control requires more than a simple diet. A plan is needed that focuses on making changes in behaviors that have contributed to the weight problem, changes that are realistic and fit each person’s unique lifestyle. The best weight loss program for most people includes a personal plan of action with specific solutions for lifelong change, a program with the right balance of calories and exercise to lose weight at an optimal rate, and the personal support they need to succeed. Doing it right helps ensure that the weight loss is not just temporary, but long-term.

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