The politics and science around obesity continues to become more complicated and more urgent. Just about everyone sees it as a problem, but no one seems to be addressing it in a meaningful way. Maybe it’s because obesity has emotional, social, psychological, physiological, socioeconomic, racial/cultural, and genetic dynamics all entangled together. As an example, just take a look at the obesity-related news from the last few week:

- HealthAffairs: This is why a fat tax doesn’t make sense - if done the wrong way, it could actually increase the cardiovascular-related death rate. If fatty foods are too expensive, people will just end up buying and eating more salty foods.

- NYT: Apparently, Obesity is socially “contagious”. Do you have an obese friend? Even if the friend lives hundreds of miles away, you are 3x more likely to also be obese.

Obesity can spread from person to person, much like a virus, researchers are reporting today. When a person gains weight, close friends tend to gain weight, too.

The author of the study explains why in this BBC article:

“Rather, there is a direct, causal relationship. What appears to be happening is that a person becoming obese most likely causes a change of norms about what counts as an appropriate body size.

“People come to think that it is OK to be bigger since those around them are bigger, and this sensibility spreads.”

- FOXNews: A Missouri man claims that he was denied adoption because of his weight.

- SanDiego Union Tribune: Maybe this will all be irrelevant if we can all just pop anti-obesity pills. Another potential obesity drug just announced great results - 620 people lost an average of 10% of their body weight in 6 months. Interestingly enough, this new drug candidate is actually a combination of an anti-convulsant and an anti-depressant.

Nonetheless, the word “epidemic” is increasingly being used for obesity (and diabesity). And for an epidemic, it’s not getting enough press. I think the million (or trillion) dollar question is this: How do you get 300 million people to take more walks and eat less?