Authors: Eric Robinson, PhD; Jason Thomas; Paul Aveyard, PhD; Suzanne Higgs, PhD. Video: Is obesity a socially transmitted disease? Jason Thomas presents the results of a new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that explored how social norms influence the quantity of food eaten. Researchers found that if participants were given information indicating that others were making low-calorie or high-calorie food choices, it significantly increased the likelihood that participants made similar choices. December 30, 2013 (10.1016/j.jand.2013.11.009).