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Friends Can Make You Skinny

Wellsphere's (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/4/370) just released by the New England Journal of Medicine, revealing that obesity spreads from person to person, through social networks of friends and families. The study showed the same effect for weight loss, finding that "the relevance of social influence also suggests that it may be possible to harness this same force to slow the spread of obesity. Network phenomena might be exploited to spread positive health behaviors... People are connected, and so their health is connected."This mirrors the theory behind Wellsphere, an online community recently launched by Stanford graduates, specifically designed for people to help each other lose weight, stay fit and healthy.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine study, which analyzed the relationships and weights of more than 12,000 friends, neighbors and family members over 32 years, when one person gains weight, their close friends and family tend to gain weight as well. The study revealed that people were 57% more likely to become obese if their friends became obese. The closer the friendship, the more likely people were to influence one another, regardless of geography- friends who live hundreds of miles away have just as much impact as friends who are next door.

Recently launched, Wellsphere leverages this exact phenomenon by providing a platform for people and their friends to influence each other to live healthier, happier lives. In addition to sharing interesting, up-to-the minute stories such as this one posted yesterday by Wellsphere member Julie M. (http://www.wellsphere.com/viewGroup.sid=37) to answering each other's questions about how to keep exercising once you have kids, Wellsphere members are there to help each other stay motivated and informed. Friends can even share their favorite workout videos (www.wellsphere.com.

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