MD & DO Obesity spreads like a virus/contagion - JAMA

[arcus]

JAMA Pediatrics - January 22, 2018

Original Investigation:

Association of Exposure to Communities With Higher Ratios of Obesity with Increased Body Mass Index and Risk of Overweight and Obesity Among Parents and Children

Datar A, Nicosia N. Association of Exposure to Communities With Higher Ratios of Obesity with Increased Body Mass

Index and Risk of Overweight and Obesity Among Parents and Children. JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 22, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.4882

Key Points
Question Does exposure to communities with higher rates of obesity increase the body mass index (BMI) and risk of overweight/obesity of individual residents?

Findings Using data from military service members assigned to installations around the country, this study found that exposure to counties with higher rates of obesity (relative to counties with lower obesity rates) was associated with higher mean BMI and greater odds of obesity in parents and higher BMI z scores and greater odds of overweight/obesity in children. Associations were stronger among families who had resided longer in a given location and with off-installation residence; no evidence supported self-selection or shared built environment as explanations for these results.

Meaning Exposure to communities with higher rates of obesity is associated with higher BMI and greater risk of overweight and/or obesity in parents and children, and this may suggest the presence of social contagion.

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Editorial
January 22, 2018
Relevance of Social Networks for Adolescent Obesity
Epstein LH, Wen X. Relevance of Social Networks for Adolescent Obesity. JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 22, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.4983

The idea that obesity is contagious and can be spread like a virus was a brilliant analogy that provided a convenient rubric for people to understand that obesity could be transmitted to other individuals.

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First time I see anything like this.

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[Redpancreas]

JAMA Pediatrics - January 22, 2018

Original Investigation:

Association of Exposure to Communities With Higher Ratios of Obesity with Increased Body Mass Index and Risk of Overweight and Obesity Among Parents and Children

Datar A, Nicosia N. Association of Exposure to Communities With Higher Ratios of Obesity with Increased Body Mass

Index and Risk of Overweight and Obesity Among Parents and Children. JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 22, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.4882

Key Points
Question Does exposure to communities with higher rates of obesity increase the body mass index (BMI) and risk of overweight/obesity of individual residents?

Findings Using data from military service members assigned to installations around the country, this study found that exposure to counties with higher rates of obesity (relative to counties with lower obesity rates) was associated with higher mean BMI and greater odds of obesity in parents and higher BMI z scores and greater odds of overweight/obesity in children. Associations were stronger among families who had resided longer in a given location and with off-installation residence; no evidence supported self-selection or shared built environment as explanations for these results.

Meaning Exposure to communities with higher rates of obesity is associated with higher BMI and greater risk of overweight and/or obesity in parents and children, and this may suggest the presence of social contagion.

###

Editorial
January 22, 2018
Relevance of Social Networks for Adolescent Obesity
Epstein LH, Wen X. Relevance of Social Networks for Adolescent Obesity. JAMA Pediatr. Published online January 22, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.4983

The idea that obesity is contagious and can be spread like a virus was a brilliant analogy that provided a convenient rubric for people to understand that obesity could be transmitted to other individuals.

=======

First time I see anything like this.

Interestingly enough, there’s reputable people looking into the prospects of obesity literally being contributed to by a virus: AD-36.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

It's almost as if people model the lifestyle they are exposed to most frequently...

 

[icedude2010]

Pretty similar to other research that models the spread of certain behaviors as a contagion (EG, violence: American Public Health Association (APHA) publications). Beginning to understand the way that certain behaviors spread amongst populations is huge for behavioral health/public health.