So far this year, we’ve talked about the importance of sleep, and the importance of creating good habits after dinner. This week I would like to talk about another key element to a fit and healthy lifestyle, your support system. There has been some fascinating research that has been done in this area. Fellow trainer and lifestyle coach Tom Venuto, wrote a wonderful article highlighting the latest research to come out about support systems. Below is his article:
Obesity Spreads Through Social Networks, Study Finds
By Tom Venuto, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
Last week, I posted an article about the wide publication of the discovery of an “obesity virus.” Coincidentally, this report came on the tails of en even more publicized study from last month’s New England Journal of Medicine, which reported that Obesity spreads through social networks. Major news media such as the NY Times, the LA Times and CNN, printed dramatic headlines such as, “Research Says Obesity is Contagious!” However, this study was not about obesity being biologically contagious, as in the virus theory, it was about something completely different: It suggested that obesity is “socially contagious.” The sensational news reporting led to many misinterpretations and foregone conclusions by readers, some of whom critized the research and others who dismissed it. However, I believe that this concept - your social network - is something you should take into very serious consideration if you’ve struggled to get in shape or lose weight…
This concept you’re about to hear might even be the one missing piece of the puzzle that can take your results of your fitness program to the next level.
The right social support is absolutely key in adopting a healthy and fit lifestyle. Social support can come in many forms including friends, family, church, trainers, coaches, support groups and more.
Research in scientific peer-reviewed nutrition, obesity, and medical journals, as well as sociology and psychology publications, has provided evidence that programs which include social support have better outcomes than those which don’t.
When negative social pressure is dragging you down, especially from people close to you, it’s extremely difficult to get maximum results and reach all your goals. If you’re not getting social support for your fitness endeavors from your family, obviously you can’t change your family, but you can reach out to enlist support from your friends, and you can seek out new friends and social contacts with similar goals as you.
A new study was recently published by researchers from Harvard in the New England Journal Of Medicine, titled:
“The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network Over 32 Years.”
The media put their own spin on it with headlines saying, “Obesity is contagious.” However, the study was not about obesity being biologically infectious, the study said that obesity spreads through SOCIAL networks, ie, obesity is “socially contagious.”
12,067 people who had been enrolled in the famous Framingham heart study were analyzed using a longitudinal statistical model to see whether weight gain in one person was correlated with weight gain in his or her friends, siblings, spouse or neighbors.
The results, although not surprising, were extremely significant:
Among adult siblings, if one sibling became obese, the chance that the other would become obese increased by 40% (55% among siblings of the same gender).
If one spouse became obese, the likelihood that the other spouse would become obese increased by 37%.
Mutual friends - those who both considered each other a good friend - had the highest risk of all. If one became obese, the risk for the other increased by 171%. This showed that the influence in friendship ties was directional.
There was no effect on risk if an immediate neighbor became obese, but even hundreds of miles did not decrease the risk of weight gain among close social ties (friends, siblings), if they were obese.
In a previous study, “The role of social support in lifestyle- focused weight management interventions,” researchers from the Netherlands also confirmed that family members, friends, colleagues and communities (including church) can play an important role in social support. They referred to this as your “natural network.”
However, we all know how difficult it can be when we are surrounded by negativity and peer pressure and unfortunately, it often comes from our very own family and friends.
“Cmon!!! A few cookies won’t hurt ya…”
“How do you live like that… eating all that rabbit food?”
“Have a drink… loosen up and have some fun will ya?”
“Life’s too short to live in the gym all the time…”
And so on…
In fact, one study from the University of Michigan (“Social Networks and Social Support In WeightLoss”) found that family members were considered both the MOST helpful and the LEAST helpful by study participants!
Having the support of your spouse or family may be YOUR greatest leverage - if you can get it - but if you’re surrounded by negativity or your current environment is not conducive to health and fitness yet, don’t worry, there’s good news:
Although obesity appears to spread socially, the studies also say that so do health and fitness habits. It’s largely a matter of getting around the right people and letting them rub off on you.
The Harvard researchers said:
“It’s possible to harness this same force to slow the spread of obesity. Network phenomena might be exploited to spread positive health behaviors, in part because people’s perception of their own risk may depend on the people around them.”
The Dutch researchers agreed and added:
“Bringing new sources of support such as peers into action may be helpful when social support from natural networks is insufficient.”
Although this is powerful, you will probably agree, that it’s also just confirmation of what most people already know and believe…
You’re only as good as the company you keep.
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