For a long time, people have thought of obesity as simply being a medical issue: people ate more than they expended, and gained weight.
A lot of research has gone into the physical and physiological aspects of weight loss; looking for “the fat gene”, promoting low fat or low carb diets, and also looking at how people could rebalance their desires for high-fat foods.
New research from the University of Warwick suggests that people become obese if the people around them are obese. Such like that old saying, “working hard to keep up with the Joneses”- this research offers the possibility that we try to “keep up with the Joneses” in our incomes, lifestyles- and our weight.
Women, in particular, tend to be very conscious of their weight when they compare themselves to other women of the same age. Weight is a very sensitive subject that impacts how a person feels, looks, and interacts with their environment. This research indicates that people are highly influenced by the weight of others around them, though this influence happens outside conscience awareness.
The researchers suggest that people find it easier to be fat in a society that is fat- and since obesity is rising in most countries, it seems easier to be fat, compared to ever before.
Results of this study will be presented at the NBER Summer Institute on Health Economics.
What do you think? Do you feel better about your weight when comparing yourself to those around you?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I was at my 25th highschool reunion and all the guys were fat, and I felt out of place being thin! Billy
Lol… Maybe we need to have whole towns go on diets!!! I do believe the article - when I am around thin people is makes me a self conscious and motivates me to lose those extra pounds. When I am with my in laws, i feel thin and eat all I want!
Feeling better about yourself because other people around you have the same condition, in this case being overweight, is the reason their overweight in the first place. Finding comfort in this case is basic lack of control.
FYI: Looking for the fat gene is to far in the forest. People eat because it taste good. Dull or remove the taste buds and your on your way to skinny ville
I think it’s true that people are more likely to become overweight if their parents were overweight (it seems to be more of a family tradition of eating certain things in a certain way, which could maybe seem like ‘genetics’). Who knows, really? Maybe it’s both. It probably is definitely easier to be fat in an already-fat society, but still, that doesn’t make it any easier on a personal level. A lot of people would still find it difficult to see themselves as acceptable, even if it’s become an acceptable image.
I don’t want to be fat anymore. Please help me!
I agree with Stacey. I believe that I am overweight because both my parents are … and it is only natural.
All my family is overweight and I do not agree that you become overweight based on others around you. It is all in your mind on how you want to look. I think that people who are severely overweight don’t think too much about themselves. When you feel good about yourself, you are more able to stay with a diet and exercise program. Not only that, there are severe health problems related to being overweight. I have worked on my weight over the years to stay slim and trim.
I agree with you about that Justine, although a lot of times growing up being overweight could start because of the eating habits of the family. Anyone can overcome anything though, and come out of any situation with the power of the mind I believe, for sure. So many physical things are really pretty metaphysical.
And I agree with Stacey. Unfortunately, overweight parents start their children off in life with the same eating patterns. After 20 years or so, it’s hard to change to a healthier diet. There is always a yearning for the ‘other’ food.
Yes Carmela, you are so right. We are products of our family and/or environment. And then society tells us ‘you are not OK’ and we suffer endlessly trying to reach those levels. I’m thinking, by this article, that the only way out of our ingrained beliefs is to try hypnosis.
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