Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Is Obesity Contagious?

Now that your teens and pre-teens are eating school lunch with their buddies again, be aware: their tablemates’ weight, says a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, may affect how much your kids eat. The research, conducted at the State University of New York at Buffalo, looked at children between the ages of nine and 15. Scientists found that while all the kids ate more when eating with friends, the overweight kids put away an average of 300 calories more when they were with other overweight kids than when they were with slimmer pals. Plus, the friendships themselves seemed to affect calorie consumption: Overweight kids who are with other overweight kids who were already their friends consumed 250 more calories than they did when they dined with overweight kids they’d just met. What to do if you’re worried about your youngster’s weight? The best strategy is to model healthy eating and exercise at home.

Source: Health Insider

3 comments:

  1. Our kids are so influenced by others, we really need to pray hard for them! thanks Dr. bob

    ReplyDelete
  2. H. Kon,
    Wow, peer pressure is amazing!! I am seeing more overweight children in my clinic. I do encourage exercise, But telling someone to go on a diet is a differet subject. Prayer is the best place to start.
    Thank you,
    Dr. Bob Moulas

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Harry,
    How are you and your kids doing? Have you been in church regularly?
    Take care,
    Dr. Bob Moulas

    ReplyDelete