Social Contagion

The social contagion effect in obesity is documented in academic literature. Once a critical mass of a peer group normalises overconsumption and sedentary behaviour, the new norm becomes self-reinforcing. Obesity spreads socially in ways t…

1 sources - 4 claims

The social contagion effect in obesity is documented in academic literature. Once a critical mass of a peer group normalises overconsumption and sedentary behaviour, the new norm becomes self-reinforcing. Obesity spreads socially in ways that parallel contagion dynamics. Each percentage point of obesity prevalence accelerates the next, due to the social contagion effect.