The stigmatization of obesity

Nutrition Research Newsletter, Sept, 2005 by J. Latner, A. Stunkard, G. Wilson

There is vast stigmatization of obesity in all age groups. Obese individuals experience discrimination in educational, occupational, and medical settings. The psychological impact of such stigma includes diminished self-esteem and negative body image.

A recent study found that children's stigmatization of obese peers, as compared to their stigmatization of peers with other physical disabilities, has increased over the past 40 years, despite the threefold rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity. It is not clear how young adults view obese peers compared with peers with physical disabilities. There is also the question of how individual differences, such as ethnic background, sex, and weight, among potential perpetrators of weight bias may influence the extent of their stigmatization of obesity relative to the stigmatization of physical disabilities.

Investigators performed a study to further extend the recent findings of children to adults. College men and women were asked to view six sex- and age-matched drawings of peers, varying in weight and in the presence of disabilities, and to indicate how much they liked the person depicted in each drawing. Sex, weight category, and ethnic group differences were examined, and it was hypothesized that African-American participants, particularly women, would show less stigmatization than white participants. Adults' responses were also compared with those of children from the study noted above, in which children ranked their liking of drawings of sex- and age-matched peers with various disabilities and obesity.

Participants included 356 college students who were administered a questionnaire displaying drawings of six adults: one with no visible disabilities or obesity (Health), one holding crutches with a brace on one leg (Crutches), one sitting in a wheelchair with a blanket covering both legs (Wheelchair), one with a missing hand (Hand), one with a facial disfigurement on one side of the mouth (Face), and one who was obese (Obese). The figures were otherwise matched for size, clothing, and facial appearance. Participants were asked to look carefully at the six pictures and to circle the picture of the person whom they liked best. They were then asked to rank the remaining images in their order of preference. Participants were then asked to indicate their own age, height, weight, their highest-ever weight, the age at which they were at their highest weight, and their ethnic background.

Obesity was highly stigmatized relative to physical disabilities. African-American women liked obese peers more than African-American men, white men, or white women. Overweight and obese participants were no less stigmatizing of obesity than normal weight participants. Adults were more accepting than children of their obese peers.

This evidence suggests that obese individuals are prejudiced against more than individuals with disabilities.

J. Latner, A. Stunkard, G. Wilson. Stigmatized students: age, sex, and ethnicity effects in the stigmatization of obesity. Obes Res; 13:1226-1231 (July, 2005) [Correspondence: Janet D. Latner, Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand.

E-mail:janet.latner@canterbury.ac.nz]