It’s scary when a single "thing" that every single person out there has will increase the risk of becoming obesity … by 171% according to one study.

Do you know what "IT" is?

Your friends. 

According to the Framingham Heart Study — an ongoing study that’s been following around 12,000 participants for decades — concluded that if a friend becomes obese, the likelihood that you will too skyrockets by 171%!

That is insane.

Here’s the deal — you spend time with people who are "like you."

Similar interests.  Same type of enjoyment.  Comparable tastes.

And the other piece is that if your comparison is someone who is overweight or obese, the perceived acceptable body type is likely to change.

We all want to be comfortable.

And straying too far from the people you spend the most time with makes it uncomfortable.  This is likely the same reason about 95% of people who win the lottery are broke in a very short time.  They’re not sure how to handle the new "lifestyle" that is likely to come with suddenly having large sums of money.

Mohr Results Bottom Line: So then what is the solution?  Should you abandon all your friends the minute they gain some weight?  Of course not …

… but make sure you surround yourself with positive influences.  It’s one of the reasons the women in our Louisville boot camp are so successful — they’re surrounded by like minded women who are working towards similar goals. 

Maybe don’t spend all time together around food.  Or join a local intramural sport team, even if you’ve never played that sport in your life.  Friends will either bring you up or bring you down — find those who are positive influences rather than negative "Debbie downers."

There's a stomach bug going around Louisville.

Everywhere I turn I hear of another person who got sick.  Must be contagious.

You know what else is contagious?  

Obesity.

It's true.  Overweight and obesity are contagious.

Crazy, right?  

When you're around people with a cold or the flu, your chances are higher for getting that same cold or flu.  Well, same goes with overweight and obesity!

If you're spending too much time around other people who are overweight or obese, you are likely to gain belly fat too!

I'm not saying by simply shaking someone's hand you're going to instantly inherent their body; however, if you spend an appreciable amount of time with people who live an unhealthy lifestyle, it's bound to rub off.

Here's the deal.

As part of the now famous Framingham Heart Study, the 12,000+ subjects were asked to provide a list of family members and one close friend.  The patterns of weight gain over time in study participants, family, and friends were then analyzed.

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Interesting part
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When a person in the study became obese, there was a 40% increased risk their sibling would become obese too!

And for the spouse, there was a 37% increased risk.

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MOST SHOCKING RESULTS
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When your friend becomes obese, you have a 57% risk yourself!

And if your friend was of the same gender, that jumped to 71%!  

Picture this — a few girlfriends sitting around, Friday night, chattin' away … drinking a little bit, snacking on some chocolate and cookies … hellooooo muffin top!

Some guys, getting together on a Sunday to watch the game, mindlessly chomping on some super fattening "guy food" … suddenly … "DUDE, where's my feet?" A comment normally only heard by women who are 9 months pregnant!

But get this — the researchers found that even friends who don't live near each other are out of luck!  

SAVE YOURSELF FROM "CATCHING" OBESITY

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THE SOLUTION
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1.  Spend less time doing inactive things with friends/family
2.  Be the leader, not the follower — suggest and bring better foods to "get togethers"
3.  Find new friends — join a local runnin' group if you run, a biking group if you cycle, or maybe a local outdoor club.  It's a great way to meet new, like minded, active friends!