Obesity ‘contagious’, experts say
Having a friend, sibling or spouse who is overweight raises a person’s risk of being obese too, US researchers say.
They said data on more than 12,000 people suggested the risk was increased by 57% if a friend was obese, by 40% if a sibling was and 37% if a spouse was.
What do you think? I reckon if this were the case then either Nog would be grossly overweight or I’d be real skinny. I also think that Harvard Medical School should find better ways of spending its research money.
casa azahar 
Women tend to gain weight when they are in a relation with a man. The reason seems to be size of servings.
Men in common eat more than women, and when you on a regular basis share meals with someone you (subconcious?) tend to increase the size of your own serving.
I can’t find the reference now, but men didn’t reduce their servings what I recall.
Interpreting reserach data is an art and a science itself. It’s not just a question of co-variance and co-existence, you also must provide a plausible mechanism/connection.
… and if this study is correct you and Nog can be part of the other 63%…
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Well, as one person in the article states:
But what you say makes sense, dq. I’ve put on a lot of weight since Nog moved in and although I don’t think I’m eating that much more I am eating differently as we have more ‘proper meals’, which aren’t particularly ‘light’. When I lived alone I used to just snack a lot more and wouldn’t, say, make myself spaghetti carbonara for lunch.
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Mothers can be as harmful…
I gained a lot of weight during the period of time the Queen Mum was chef in the Lair. I really don’t need two “proper cooked meals” a day…
…and daughters…
dragonprincess makes lovely desserts on a regular basis e g several times a week… and as Mum I can’t refuse to eat what my daughter cooks, can I…? *whistles innocently*
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Well quite. 😉
And I can’t not cook one proper meal a day or else Nog will waste away to nothing. As it is he doesn’t put on any weight even with extra large helpings at meals and high-calorie snacks and desserts in between. Most annoying and unfair …
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About two (or three) years ago I read a report which recorded women’s weight over a number of years. When graphed against their relationship status, it seemed that out-of-relationship meant losing weight while being in a settled relationship (even if only settled for 6 months) meant an increase in weight.
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You mean Nog’s gotta go??? 😯
But he’s so good at doing the washing up – he even washes the backs of the plates, you know what I mean?
Dang!
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At least they put contagious in scare quotes.
So shared weight patterns are related to shared lifestyles and/or genes, eh? Who’d have thunk it.
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Well indeed Nog. Yet again Harvard research scientists prove their real skill is Stating the Bleedin’ Obvious whilst on a huge grant.
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I heard about this, too. I’m not sure, but I have heard of people, once married or “settled” that do gain weight. I think it’s a lifestyle thing…if you live with people who eat a certain way, you’re going to eat that way, too. I have dropped 15lbs just by moving out of my brother’s place and not eating their diet over there.
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Really? Can I come and live with you? 🙂
I’ve decided to stop preparing lunches (our main meal of the day) in August. Both of us will be off work and basically just hanging out – though I’ll be spending Mon-Fri mornings hanging out at the gym.
And Nog will be doing whatever and so he’s okay about fending for himself at lunchtime.
I’ll be mostly eating lots of fruit with yoghurt and salady stuff. Of course we’ll still share some meals, but I just want a month off from having to come up with a ‘big meal’ every day. Or at least a bigger one than I’d make just for myself.
Actually, I think it could be quite an interesting and creative time for both of us.
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There is of course a converse point to the one Wandering Coyote makes. As a couple it is virtually impossible, or certainly very difficult, for one of a pair to lose weight if the other isn’t interested/non-committed.
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Well, OK, I do cardio 3 – 4 times a week, too.
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