Is Obesity Infectious?

Given the role our gut bacteria can play in affecting our weight, having family and friends who are obese may not just be socially contagious but actually contagious.

More on the amazing inner world in our guts, see:

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

Image credit: Jay Malone via flickr. Image has been modified.

[zanna]

I'm not fat, I just caught obesity

[sul]

drinking sprite daily is the fastest way to lose weight - durianrider 2016

[VeganismUnspun]

Fascinating, I'd love to see more research on this. The potential implications are... far-reaching to say the least.

[teddiboi]

The complexities of the human body are absolutely astounding. Fecal transplant still grosses me out.

[liam]

Dayum I better sterilise my stool after my fat friends been round! x)

[ThoArtOne]

So if I live with a meat eater he spreads his bad bacteria on me?!

[hellobonjour]

Want to lose weight ? Adopt my brother ! He'll eat all the food in the house leaving you starving !

[jocke]

Hey doc! Love your videos. Would you like to look over the the subject of Intermittent Fasting. I have went on a 16 hour fast from 20:00 to 12:00 in the morning for 3 month now. I have feelt big improvment in how I feel in my body, but I Am still wondering if this is healthy for me.

[typingcat]

Probably, because dogs tend to lick people more than cats do?

[ChicoSatoify]

All these people saying they are getting a dog. That is cool if you are going to take good care of it, but instead of focusing on the dog just focus on eating a whole food plant based diet. You'll loose the fat and not worry about gaining weight if you do this correctly (stay away from oils as much as you can). Also, I think Dr. Greger meant that obesity is contagious for those not eating a plant based diet. I can't see anyone getting obese this way.

[HelloZhanna]

This is so interesting! I always thought that the way person looks it the mirror of their lifestyle. And seeing people living together I've noticed that they start to not only behave alike, but have similar body types:) I didn't give it much thought, until now.

[StarFlower]

This is so very interesting. It proves the reason I have suspected all along for why I always get sick about two weeks into my visits with my son's family and grandkids. Always! He is in the military and has lived in many homes, and everytime I get sick about 2 weeks into my visit with the same exact symptoms of a 'cold'

[anitac]

Hi, can someone clarify what 'fecal transplants” may suffer “from repulsive esthetics, ” means? Thanks

[eelkeaptroot]

So I'm not fat, cause Í don't know any fat people.... And bacteria are what's causing this, guess I'll have to watch out for chubby chicks with dogs....

[broccool]

This is interesting. What about cancer? Dogs eat anything and some like to roll in poop in the park and even roll in dead animals. Some dogs do this and others don't. Could this behavior be attracting dangerous toxins into their family relationship?

[thedebatehitman]

2:37

Dr. Greger meets Bill Nye The Science Guy.

[ianturnbull]

Well if we have more cells from our gut bacteria then we have in ourselves, you would think it would be worthwhile profiling our gut bacteria, and making or confirming diagnosis and treatment through that analysis.

[spaceghosttoast]

Im 130 pounds and live in a house with 3 overweight people and 2 of my closer friends are obese. I actually watch what I eat tho. So I think its just like children that are raised by diabetics. They pass on their eating habits. The bacteria thing is really interesting tho. I may read up on it

[Dudefromspace]

Hopefully he starts the fasting videos soon.

[notjustanotherguy]

Interesting... does it go both ways?
I mean, I'm fit and healthy and my boyfriends is overweight and eats mostly "junkfood". Could I possibly affect his metabolism in a positive way? 😜 hehe