Last week, I posted an article about the wide publication of the discovery of an “obesity virus.” Coincidentally, this report came on the tails of en even more publicized study from last month’s New England Journal of Medicine, which reported that Obesity spreads through social networks. Major news media such as the NY Times, the LA Times and CNN, printed dramatic headlines such as, “Research Says Obesity is Contagious!” However, this study was not about obesity being biologically contagious, as in the virus theory, it was about something completely different: It suggested that obesity is “socially contagious.” The sensational news reporting led to many misinterpretations and foregone conclusions by readers, some of whom critized the research and others who dismissed it. However, I believe that this concept – your social network – is something you should take into very serious consideration if you’ve struggled to get in shape or lose weight…

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This concept you’re about to hear might even be the one missing piece of the puzzle that can take your results of your fitness program to the next level.

One year ago, I published a special report called, The Fifth Element. The 5th Element revealed a powerful success principle that if put into action, could truly transform not just your body, but your entire life in numerous ways.

The 5th element proposed the following…

1. There are 4 elements that must be present for MAXIMUMresults in your fat loss and fitness program: (1) nutrition,(2) resistance training, (3) cardio training, (4) “mental”training. If you’re missing any element, your results willbe less than they would with all four in place. If you’remissing two or three of these elements, you may get little,if any results at all.

2. When someone has all 4 elements in place and they stillstruggle to get results or stay consistent with those elementsover time, it may be because there is another element they’remissing, which most people never think about or take seriously.

3. This 5th element is social support.

4. Social support can come in many forms including friends,family, church, trainers, coaches, support groups and more.

5. Research in scientific peer-reviewed nutrition, obesity, andmedical journals, as well as sociology and psychologypublications, has provided evidence that programs which includesocial support have better outcomes than those which don’t.

6. When negative social pressure is dragging you down,especially from people close to you, it’s extremely difficultto get maximum results and reach all your goals.

7. If you’re not getting social support for yourfitness endeavors from your family, obviously you can’tchange your family, but you can reach out to enlist supportfrom your friends, and you can seek out new friends and socialcontacts with similar goals as you.

Now fast forward to the present day.

A new study was recently published by researchers from Harvardin the New England Journal Of Medicine, titled:

“The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network Over 32 Years.”

The media put their own spin on it with headlines saying,”Obesity is contagious.” However, the study was not aboutobesity being biologically infectious, the study said thatobesity spreads through SOCIAL networks, ie, obesity is”socially contagious.”

12,067 people who had been enrolled in the famous Framinghamheart study were analyzed using a longitudinal statisticalmodel to see whether weight gain in one person was correlatedwith weight gain in his or her friends, siblings, spouse orneighbors.

The results, although not surprising, were extremely significant:

Among adult siblings, if one sibling became obese, the chancethat the other would become obese increased by 40% (55% amongsiblings of the same gender).

If one spouse became obese, the likelihood that the otherspouse would become obese increased by 37%.

Mutual friends – those who both considered each other agood friend – had the highest risk of all. If one becameobese, the risk for the other increased by 171%. Thisshowed that the influence in friendship ties was directional.

There was no effect on risk if an immediate neighbor became obese,but even hundreds of miles did not decrease the risk of weightgain among close social ties (friends, siblings), if theywere obese.

Not only did this paper, which was published in one of theworld’s most prestigious scientific journals, confirm whatI described in “The Fifth Element” about social influence, italso confirmed that geographic distance did not matter,providing even more evidence that social support can beeffective over long distance by internet or phone.

In a previous study, “The role of social support in lifestyle-focused weight management interventions,” researchers from theNetherlands also confirmed that family members, friends, colleaguesand communities (including church) can play an important rolein social support. They referred to this as your “natural network.”

However, we all know how difficult it can be when we aresurrounded by negativity and peer pressure and unfortunately,it often comes from our very own family and friends.

“Cmon!!! A few cookies won’t hurt ya…”

“How do you live like that… eating all that rabbit food?”

“Have a drink… loosen up and have some fun will ya?”

“Life’s too short to live in the gym all the time…”

And so on…

In fact, one study from the University of Michigan (“Social Networksand Social Support In WeightLoss”) found that family members wereconsidered both the MOST helpful and the LEAST helpful by studyparticipants!

Having the support of your spouse or family may be YOUR “5th element”and your greatest leverage – if you can get it – but if you’resurrounded by negativity or your current environment is not conduciveto health and fitness yet, don’t worry, there’s good news:

Although obesity appears to spread socially, the studies also saythat so do health and fitness habits. It’s largely a matter ofgetting around the right people and letting them rub off on you.

The Harvard researchers said:

“It’s possible to harness this same force to slow the spread of obesity.Network phenomena might be exploited to spread positive health behaviors,in part because people’s perception of their own risk may depend on thepeople around them.”

The Dutch researchers agreed and added:

“Bringing new sources of support such as peers into action may behelpful when social support from natural networks is insufficient.”

although my original 5th element was written one year ago, it isstill available, and it’s as important and relevant as ever,especially in light of all the latest evidence backing it up.

If you havent seen the 5th element report yet, I recommend youdownload a copy (it’s free – link below).:

“The Fifth Element”

Although this is powerful, you will probably agree, that it’s alsojust confirmation of what most people already know and believe…

You’re only as good as the company you keep.

Tom Venuto, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
www.BurnTheFat.com
www.BurnTheFatInnerCircle.com

PS If you don’t have the natural support network you need, then considerthe suggestion from the Dutch study: Look outside your natural networkand bring new sources of support into action.

Our Burn The Fat Inner Ci
rcle has been the motivational fitnesssupport group of choice for thousands of people from 113 countries in our first year alone.

New research has shown that Internet support groups, whilenot necessarily better than in-person support, are a viableand effective method for providing social support.

To learn more, read visit www.BurnTheFatInnerCircle.com

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