HHS HealthBeat (July 26, 2007)

Is obesity contagious?

Researcher James Fowler of the University of California, San Diego says the obesity contagion can spread through social networks.

``This phenomenon of one person’s obesity affecting another person’s obesity extends out three degrees of separation. What that means is no only is it the case that my obesity affects my friends, it affects my friend’s friends; it also affects my friend’s friends’ friends.’’ (15 seconds)

Last revised: July, 26 2007