Overweight Individuals also have Overweight Friends

As the saying goes, “birds of the same feathers flock together”, a recent study in Southern California found out that overweight youth are twice as likely to have overweight friends.

Researchers from the Institute of Prevention Research at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California have found out that overweight individuals also have overweight friends, based on school surveys.

The link between social networks and obesity is already expected; however, it is quite surprising how strong the peer effect is and how it starts early in life.

Recent data had shown a connection between overweight adults  and their social peers; however,  a more recent study was conducted on adolescents and showed the same results despite a stronger statistical model used.

According to researchers these findings will certainly raise health concerns because when children started to mingle only with people who have similar weight status, then it can cause a reinforcement of a negative behavior which causes obesity.

Aside from finding out that overweight adolescents have more overweight friends than normal weight friends, the researchers have also found out that overweight girls name more friends but are less likely to be labeled as a friend unlike normal weight girls.

Because of this findings, the researchers are suggesting that interventions should be done before it can lead to a greater social stigma. Parents and teachers should be sensitive enough to recognize that obesity in adolescents can also bring social consequences and that many behaviors related to obesity can be developed.