Eating habits are contagious infographic

Below is a post at Jimmy Moore’s about eating habits that I have commented on

Jimmy Moore:

Eating habits are contagious infographic: http://www.nourishinteractive.com/blog/8…nfographic ~ Fascinating new health infographic for you to check out. They claim you’re 57% more likely to be obese if your friend is obese? But I contend this statistic is only true if you have not become enlightened to find the nutritional plan that is right for you. Then again, perhaps you find friends that look like you–and if you’re obese, they’re obese. The pressure to fit into your circle by eating what they do can contribute. But Paleo and low-carb dieters are well aware of the challenge of being a part of the group while staying true to your dietary principles can be tricky. It’s not impossible or inevitable though.

Me:

I see too basic human traits being played out here.

The first that if you can say that obesity is something that’s contagious then you can legitimately hold up your hands and say “It’s not my fault, I caught it from somebody else” which is a very nice way of sidestepping any responsibility that you might have for your body being the way it is.

The second thing is that people generally prefer people who reinforce their own way of being and conversely will avoid people who make them feel uncomfortable about the person that they are. So it should be no surprise that you will find overweight people preferring to mix with other overweight people. They simply have so much more in common.

Cheers,

Mark