Full story at: http://jondron.cofind.net:80/frshowresource.php?tid=5325&resid=1316

This bizarre but apparently rigorous study makes use of social network analysis to demonstrate that obesity is, to some extent, socially transmitted. Between mutual male friends the risk of obesity increases by 100% if one becomes obese, with smaller effects shown with different ties and different gender mixes (and none at all due to geographic proximity).
I'd be interested to explore whether learning is also contagious. Intuitively, it seems obvious that it must be. And, if it is, I'd like to explore ways to make it more virulent, and how we can more effectively overcome resistance to infection.
Created:Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:58:13 GMT

Original: https://community.brighton.ac.uk/pg/blog/jd29/read/80773/nejm-the-spread-of-obesity-in-a-large-social-network-over-32-years
By: Jon Dron
Posted: July 26, 2007, 4:58 pm