Obesity studies

Studies: Myriad factors push obesity rates higher
Too much junk food, TV and a lack of physical-education classes or other exercise make it difficult for U.S. youth to stay at a healthy weight and likely contribute to skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity, according to studies published in a special supplement of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Oct, 2007), 33(4), A1-A6, 269-358. Minorities and children in poor neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable, the studies found.

Study: Obesity programs may also curb eating disorders
Middle school girls who attended an obesity-prevention program were less likely to develop bulimia, according to Harvard School of Public Health researchers. "We are hopeful that carefully designed health promotion programs like this one may help us prevent both eating disorders and overweight at the same time," said S. Bryn Austin, an assistant Harvard School of Public Health professor.
ScienceDaily (9/3)

Study: Obesity spreads among friends
Obesity is "socially contagious," with people being 71% more likely to become too fat if their same-sex friends become obese, according to a new study. The correlation appears unaffected by geographic barriers, with the pattern manifesting itself whether friends live next door or 500 miles away from one another.
New England Journal of Medicine (vol 357, 370-379, 2007)

Study: Obese girls far less likely to attend college
Obese girls are half as likely to attend college as girls of normal weight, according to a new University of Texas at Austin study.In high schools where overweight girls comprised 20% of the student population, however, obese girls had normal odds of college attendance.
Sociology of Education, July, 2007