Strategies to Overcoming Physical Activity Barriers: Social Influence

摘要

In this issue of Obesity Management (OM), the Centersnfor Obesity Research and Education (CORE) bring younthe final tool in a set of four designed to challenge yournpatients to rethink their perceived barriers to physical activity.nIn 2007, OM covered the Lack of Time Barrier,1 the Lacknof Energy/Motivation Barrier,2 and the Level of DifficultynBarrier.3 This issue will address overcoming the Barrier ofnSocial Influence.nHow many times have you encountered a patient whonhad good intentions to exercise but did not because of repetitiousninfluence from his or her peers? This happens morenfrequently than one might think. In a study published inn2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine, Christakisnand Fowler found that social networks have a profoundninfluence on the likelihood of a person becoming obese ifnhe or she has a friend, sibling, or spouse who has becomenobese.4 Individuals are greatly influenced by the appearancenand behavior—both good and bad—of those around them.