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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – New research published this week that examines the aggregate results of more than 100 obesity-related studies shows a strong correlation between obesity and faceless photography.

The study examined other obesity research projects that linked causes and effects of dangerously overweight people to things such as sleep, genetics, geography and hormones.

“The one thing we found over and over was a predominant presence of faceless pictures,” said Kathy Mead, professor of public health at California State University, who organized the cumulative study. “This is could be a major breakthrough in obesity study.”

Of the 107 other obesity-related studies examined by CSU researchers, 91 showed a link to faceless photography.

“Right now, this is merely correlative, but prevalent, evidence,” Mead said. “We hope to begin research within the year to determine if anonymous photographs are in any way a cause of obesity or if they are simply a byproduct. And it’s possible both could be true.”

Many health experts question whether faceless photos cause obesity. “I don’t deny the correlation,” said Robert Kirkbride, director of the Institute for Healthy Lifestyles “But if you examine the photographic data, obesity is already widespread within the pictures, suggesting faceless photography is a consequence of obesity rather than a factor leading to it.”

Mead said Kirkbride’s point is noted, but added more research is important to definitively prove the role faceless pictures play related to weight gain.

“Yes, the faceless photos only feature already-obese subjects,” admitted Mead, “but do those picture represent the first time they were subjected to anonymous photography, or do they represent the culmination of a pattern of face-absent shots?”