Health Newsfeed

Now you can add your friends to the list of things that make you fat, along with sedentary lifestyle and food choices high in fat and sugar. That’s according to a recent study concluding that those who are overweight or obese tend to flock together and engage in similar behaviors. Lawrence Cheskin, director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, says people who are trying to lose weight must take this finding into account.

CHESKIN: I think they have to be cognizant of the influence of our surroundings. And just as the advertisements that we hear are carefully designed to alter our behavior, things that are less obvious will alter our behavior as well, so if a friend is gaining weight or says oh, you don’t need to lose weight, or you should eat this, it’s really good, it’s not going to hurt you, you can watch your diet tomorrow, that has an influence that may be inappropriate on what we know is the right thing to do. :28

The right group dynamic can also help you lose weight, Cheskin says. I’m Elizabeth Tracey reporting.