Find Out What 'Thinfluences' Your Weight
People, places, and things. Those are the biggest influences on what you weigh, according to two Harvard health experts.
In their new book Thinfluence, Dr. Malissa Wood and Dr. Walter Willet - along with Dan Childs, managing editor of ABC's medical unit - claim that external factors such as friends, family, the workplace and advertising play a large and often overlooked role in a person's ability to maintain a healthy body weight. They point to research that suggests the likelihood of obesity increases by 57 percent if a close friend is obese, 40 percent if a sibling is obese, and 37 percent if a spouse is obese.
This week's ABC Health tweet chat discussed various 'thinfluences" and ways to counteract them. You can peruse the full hours' worth of info here or get a snapshot of the chat from the tweets below.
T3 Many of the things that influence our weight are hidden in plain sight #abcdrbchat
- Dan Childs (@DanChildsABC) June 17, 2014
T3: Thinfluence: everything around you ctrl your own personal body image, weight, fitness/nutrition habits. Not always for best. #ABCDrBChat
- DietsInReview (@DietsInReview) June 17, 2014
RT @RodaleBooks The various influences that impact your health, weight, and more (GRAPHIC) #abcDrBchat pic.twitter.com/eLmEuEUgen
- Fitbie (@Fitbie) June 17, 2014
You are 57% more likely to be obese if your best friend is obese. Wor together to change one health habit! #abcDrBchat #thinfluence
- Malissa Wood (@drmalissawood) June 17, 2014
T2: Being on a diet is the #1 risk factor for future weight gain. I never "go on" a diet. It's a 4-letter word. #abcDrBchat
- Dave Zinczenko (@DaveZinczenko) June 17, 2014
#abcDRBchat I show my Fitbit and Myfitness pal app to my patients and encourage them to connect w a buddy using these
- Malissa Wood (@drmalissawood) June 17, 2014
T4 Interesting to note: research shows the "fat genes" we get from parents only contribute on avg 2 lbs of weight #abcdrbchat
- Dan Childs (@DanChildsABC) June 17, 2014