Smokers, the Overweight Associate With Others Like Them; Those who smoke are twice as likely to associate with others who smoke.
Byline: Elizabeth Mendes
Synopsis: Americans who smoke are more than twice as likely as those who don't to say they have friends and family who smoke. And those who are overweight and those who drink are more likely to associate with those who are or do.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans who smoke or drink are much more likely than those who abstain to have close friends and family who share their habit. Smokers, for example, are more than twice as likely as nonsmokers to say their circle of family and friends includes some or many smokers. In the same vein, 46% of adults who self-identify as overweight, vs. 30% of those whose weight is "about right," say they have some or many overweight friends.
These data, from Gallup's annual Consumption Habits survey, conducted July 10-14, conform with the theory researchers have put forth in recent years that people's social networks influence their health. A leading expert on the topic, Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis of Harvard Medical School, is exploring "the spread of health behaviors" within social networks. He and his team discovered that "obesity may spread in social networks" -- so when individuals gain weight, others in their networks tend to do so as well.
Nearly Four in 10 Have Some or Many Overweight Friends, Family
Americans, regardless of their own use of alcohol, are most likely to have some or many friends and family who drink alcoholic beverages. This is probably because most Americans drink; 60% say they drink alcohol at least occasionally. Americans are less likely to describe themselves as overweight (45%) or to say they smoke cigarettes (19%).
Overall, nearly four in 10 Americans say they have some or many friends and family who are overweight. Another 45% say they have only a few who are.
And 25% say they have some or many friends and family who smoke. However, a third of Americans say they have no friends or family who smoke, more than say so in regard to drinking and being overweight.
Bottom Line
When it comes to health habits, Americans tend to associate with others -- friends or family -- who are like them. Those who are overweight are more likely than those who aren't to have overweight close friends and family. The same is true for those who smoke and drink.
Whether Americans pick up their health habits from friends and family, or are seeking out others like them, isn't clear from these data. It could certainly be a combination of both factors. Research from others such as...
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