Is Obesity Contagious?

[The Decider]

Quote by: ZNFYRH Even if you have a genetic proclivity for either, you still make the choice when you take the first drink, overeat the first time, etc. You don't get to choose physically contagious diseases.

However, addictions affect one's ability to make good choices. The word "contagious" does not only mean airborne infections. It can, and does, refer to psychological components ranging from "contagious laugh" to "contagious smile" to "contagious fear." Look it up if you don't believe me. By focusing your argument on airborne infections as contagions, you ignore the study's actual use of a versatile term.

Also, the study never claimed that obesity is a disease BECAUSE it's a socially contagious. In fact, I'm not sure the study actually labeled obesity a disease outright--like alcoholism is a disease. It merely argued that environmental components (social contagions) increase the risk of obesity.

[ZNFYRH]

I understand the use of "contagious" in all those contexts.

Regardless, there is a first time to engage in the addictive behavior.

I think calling obesity contagious is being confused with overeating being addictive.

[treme]

Quote by: ZNFYRH I understand the use of "contagious" in all those contexts. Regardless, there is a first time to engage in the addictive behavior. I think calling obesity contagious is being confused with overeating being addictive.

Overeating can be addictive but that's not the only possible reason somebody might do it. The only thing this study shows is that obesity tends to travel through social interaction. Yes there are some factors that can prevent this like being conscious of health and weight but there ARE some people that don't have that.

If it doesn't happen to you, then you have the tools necessary, call it your social immune system, to keep it from happening. Some people don't have these social antibodies and gain weight when they hang around heavier people. Some people's social immune system fails them in regards to weight gain only when their wife is pregnant. This is still a cause and effect relationship and just because you "chose" to eat more doesn't nullify that.

Just because it is a person's "choice" to eat or not eat absolutely does not change the fact that behaviors travel through generations and laterally through the population in much the same way germs, healthy lifestyle choices and memes do.

The best thing to do is identify that this relationship exists and do what we can to build the social immune systems of others.

It's not that difficult

It seems that a lot of people don't like this study because they think people will use it to "blame" their obesity on other people. Some might but that's not valid.

[ZNFYRH]

Quote by: treme Overeating can be addictive but that's not the only possible reason somebody might do it. The only thing this study shows is that obesity tends to travel through social interaction. Yes there are some factors that can prevent this like being conscious of health and weight but there ARE some people that don't have that.

Obesity doesn't happen overnight.

In fact, because of the high body fat percentage, if you start out at a normal weight, you are going to notice you are getting fat. You are going to see that you are getting bigger.

Obesity doesn't sneak up on someone. They see it coming.

You cannot call something contagious if there are warnings signs and indicators.

Notice also that throughout your post you confuse obesity with overeating.

Overeating is the behavior... obesity is a word to describe a vital statistic of Body Fat >= 30% normal.

As I wrote in an earlier post, if someone wanted to say, "Overeating is contagious" I would agree. Obesity, however, is a result of behavior.

[treme]

Quote by: ZNFYRH Notice also that throughout your post you confuse obesity with overeating. Overeating is the behavior... obesity is a word to describe a vital statistic of Body Fat >= 30% normal. As I wrote in an earlier post, if someone wanted to say, "Overeating is contagious" I would agree. Obesity, however, is a result of behavior.

Touche! The same as the flu virus is contagious but the symptoms aren't.

[ZNFYRH]

treme

Right. And when you put it that way it makes more sense. Obesity is a symptom of overeating.

But just like you can catch the flu, if you take care of yourself you never develop symptoms.

Similarly, if you are exposed to the "overeating memetic" in a social environment, you can take care of yourself to not develop obesity.

[treme]

Haha awesome!

First post leads to a basic resolution and agreement in the debate. That'll probably never happen again. :)

[Osborn F Enready]

treme, it seems I missed where you addressed my post if you did.

Did you address the points in my post?

[treme]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready Welcome to Volconvo treme. I agree, it does have an effect. The thing is, that effect can be cancelled in most people if they simply recognize the effect, and counter act it with actions of their own that are relatively common sense. Do you recognize however that you are not "health conscious"? If so, then it really is just an issue of value assesment of being healthy vs fulfilling basic needs and desires. You consciously choose to "not be health conscious" because you allot no time for that in your mind, and instead focus on other things. However, this effect is still easily cancelled out if people have a "value" in staying fit, or maintaining their current fitness. Do you think this is beneficial for your body, to be so fluctuating in your diet and habits, or is your health and physical well being not much of a concern in regards to diet? I disagree. There is something between will and personal choice, but its just a blend of the two, nothing new. Its called ambivalence.

I basically agree with you. In the people that are more conscious about their health, the behavior of overeating likely won't stick at all.

But there are people that don't actively try to stay fit. I'm one of them. I don't always have my health in mind when I make decisions. That's why being around people that eat a lot has an effect on me. That's why I started smoking again recently. That's why I feel guilty only AFTER I polish off a bag of cheetos Luckily for me I've got a high metabolism and get enough activity in by default to keep from gaining a ton.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Damn people with high metabolisms, I gotta excersize like a demon just to keep up with some of my friends diets and not look like the micheline man. Course, I could kick all their asses, so their are some benefits.