CHAPTER 5: Social Networks & Health

Chapter 5 Preview:

The concepts related to determinants of health and disease discussed above are further reinforced by recent studies on social networks and their impact on disease and behavior. Two examples are related to obesity and smoking. In one  study, researchers examined whether weight  gain  in one  person was  associated with  weight gain  in his  or  her  friends, siblings, spouse, and  neighbors. They  found that a person’s chances of becoming obese increased by  57% if he  or  she  had  a friend who became obese, 40% if one  sibling  became obese, and 37% if a spouse became obese.

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