You Don't Make Friends With Salad

"Obesity 'Contagious', Experts Say"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6914397.stm

It blows my mind that this constitutes a "breakthrough" in science, according to some experts. On the matter of friends, one could easily posit a behaviouralist argument that individuals with similar lifestyles likely share similar habits, borne of similar behaviours, borne of similar thinking. I believe this is the same reason why any 2 people with an interest or past-time in common will often get along famously!

Another neglected factor is financial dependency. The dynamics in relationships often shift the balace of power in favour of the individual with the greater purchasing power of the two. In the case of spouses, or children, it is simply a matter of consuming whatever is provided, regardless of its nutritional value.
In the case of kiddies, routinely eating unhealthy foods could condition any child to develop a sense of normalcy (regarding food) that is entirely based on their experiences growing up.

There is an incredible sense of social divide between those who lead active, healthy lifestyles and those who don't (but perhaps endeavor to) and further this latter group becomes marginalized, the more it actually will perpetuate the myth of obeisity as an "epidemic."

Having said this, I'm now switching my grim-reaper hat for a much more fashionable optimist hat to share that one of my best friends works for the BC Provincial Government on policy and implementation of healthy food programs in communities and schools... hoorah!