Behaviors are contagious. By remaining skinny, we are fighting back against the obese contagion. A post in another thread here prompted me to make this post. I've been discussing this a lot with my friends lately and encouraging them to "trim the fat" from their social circles because I can see them gaining weight. I know we all have seen it happen. And it's not just bullshit, it is a scientifically corroborated observation. Below are some links that I give to you as ammo to use in future arguments, to fan your righteous fury. Harvard Health Publications Summarizes a study on the "pathways" that contagious behavior takes through social groups. You can find a link to the scientific journal in their article. New York Times The longest of the three and probably the most interesting. This details a massive study looking at how social behaviors can travel and affect others even separated by three degrees of freedom. It looks at obesity, propensity to vote, and smoking as characteristic habits. Scientific America A very short article to lend additional credibility. A scientific way of saying "birds of a feather..." The scientific journal they are referencing is linked in the article. I think it's funny that all three of them reference "peer pressure" or other social influences (a.k.a. fat shaming) as being a major influence for people to stay thin in groups of thin people. Moral of the story: Fit friends don't let fit friends get fat. TL;DR Obeasts are fat zombies spreading their disease through society.