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Shared norms and their explanation for the social clustering of obesity

Author

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  • Hruschka, D.J.
  • Brewis, A.A.
  • Wutich, A.
  • Morin, B.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to test the hypothesized role of shared body size norms in the social contagion of body size and obesity. Methods: Using data collected in 2009 from 101 women and 812 of their social ties in Phoenix, Arizona, we assessed the indirect effect of social norms on shared body mass index (BMI) measured in 3 different ways. Results: We confirmed Christakis and Fowler's basic finding that BMI and obesity do indeed cluster socially, but we found that body size norms accounted for only a small portion of this effect (at most 20%) and only via 1 of the 3 pathways. Conclusions: If shared social norms play only a minor role in the social contagion of obesity, interventions targeted at changing ideas about appropriate BMIs or body sizes may be less useful than those working more directly with behaviors, for example, by changing eating habits or transforming opportunities for and constraints on dietary intake.

Suggested Citation

  • Hruschka, D.J. & Brewis, A.A. & Wutich, A. & Morin, B., 2011. "Shared norms and their explanation for the social clustering of obesity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(SUPPL. 1), pages 295-300.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2010.300053_9
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2010.300053
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    Cited by:

    1. O'Connell, Heather A., 2015. "Where there's smoke: Cigarette use, social acceptability, and spatial approaches to multilevel modeling," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 18-26.
    2. Bonnet, Céline & Détang-Dessendre, Cécile & Orozco, Valérie & Rouvière, Elodie, 2022. "Spatial spillovers, living environment and obesity in France: Evidence from a spatial econometric framework," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    3. Zhang, J. & Tong, L. & Lamberson, P.J. & Durazo-Arvizu, R.A. & Luke, A. & Shoham, D.A., 2015. "Leveraging social influence to address overweight and obesity using agent-based models: The role of adolescent social networks," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 203-213.
    4. Perry, Brea L. & Ciciurkaite, Gabriele, 2019. "Contributions of personality to social influence: Contingent associations between social network body size composition and BMI," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Janette S Leroux & Spencer Moore & Lucie Richard & Lise Gauvin, 2012. "Physical Inactivity Mediates the Association between the Perceived Exercising Behavior of Social Network Members and Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-6, October.
    6. Brewis, Alexandra A., 2014. "Stigma and the perpetuation of obesity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 152-158.
    7. Schroeter, Christiane & Richards, Tim & Hamilton, Steve, 2014. "Do Social Networks Improve the Effectiveness of Incentive-Based Health Programs," 2014 AAEA/EAAE/CAES Joint Symposium: Social Networks, Social Media and the Economics of Food, May 29-30, 2014, Montreal, Canada 166099, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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