INFObite

Good article about the book Thinfluence by two Harvard researchers, Walter Willett MD, Malissa Wood MD, FACC and Dan Childs MA.

Tackling a weight problem is often viewed as a personal responsibility that requires making healthier choices. The latest research, however, shows that external factors—from family and friendships to advertising and the workplace environment—make an equal, if not greater, contribution. Just look at the stats: A person’s chance of becoming obese increases by 57 percent if a close friend is obese, 40 percent if a sibling is obese, and 37 percent if a spouse is obese.

5 Surprising Ways Your Friends Are Influencing Your Weight