Have we all seen it, that article in the Chicago Tribune about how ‘fat is contagious’? Upon reading it, I didn’t know if I should smile or cringe. Is this a new breakthrough in the eternal combat against fat? Hell, is fat contagious, and should we be careful of not associating ourselves with anyone who is bigger than us? Do we surround ourselves without realizing it with people our own size? Can a friend who’s gained on weight make me gain weight as well in turn?
More importantly, why am I finding all of this a little dumb?
No, really, should we waste precious time looking to incriminate friends for ‘making us fat’? After all, if I want to go on along such twisted thinking, why even bother getting a man–hey, I may end up eating the same quantities as him, and then get obese! Oh the horror. Know what, girls, let’s all remain single, that will surely prevent many of us from falling in that common trap!
Yes, I like sarcasm. I live for sarcasm. But as usual when I read something like this, it gets me to think, about behaviours and habits in particular. Because there may be a truth in that, and because the study itself seems to me like it was conducted thoroughly enough. If person A has gained on weight due to bad habits, person B might indeed have the same problem if she’s friends with A, goes out with A, and wants to eat the same thing as A. I think the truth stops here, though–and all things considered, it’s still a piss-poor argumentation. So what if my friends want to treat me to ‘dinner’ at McDonald’s because they love that… uhm, ‘food’? It still doesn’t force me to eat three sandwiches and two portion of French fries.
We can’t pinpoint our failures on the actions of others. Well, sometimes we can, but not when it comes to food, and not if there isn’t some guy standing behind us with the proverbial gun against on our temple, saying: “Eat the contents of that cookie jar NOW!” Is it me, or does society and medias really have a tendency of trying to convince people that no matter what, it’s never their fault but always that of others? (Even the term ‘obesity epidemics’ sounds to me like an outbreak of the plague, you know–something we can’t do anything about.) Of course, that’s only to smash them in the face later on, with talks of willpower, criminalizing fat, and considering them like lazy slobs who can’t do a damn thing and should be ashamed of even existing. Double standards much?
Seriously, maybe it’s time we throw away such research, and try to focus on something more positive, something more empowering, something that will stop infantilizing us and make us believe that we’re not in control that it’s the Other’s fault. Not “OMG, my friend is fat, I’d better ditch her before I get fat as well”, because obesity is the spawn of Satan and everybody run, the homecoming queen’s got a bum!
Unless your friend is a hitman and has that gun in hand, that is. But somehow, I very much doubt it.
- Kery (proud of her bum)
- Friendship at heart of obesity (Chicago Tribune)
- One’s weight ’socially contagious’ (USA Today)
July 26th, 2007 at 20:53
It’s interesting–I’m guessing that some people might use this study sensibly, as helpful information to make them more aware of the factors that can affect weight gain.
But many who could benefit from taking a closer look at why they have such bad habits may instead jump on to the idea that its “their friends fault” they’re overweight. So the quick answer is to seek out skinnier friends? So silly. Can’t imagine they’ll have much success with that approach.
July 27th, 2007 at 09:52
Can’t imagine they’ll have much success with that approach.
Of course not! Since all the skinnier ones will be too busy avoiding making friends with an overweight person in fear of Teh Phat!