Defining weight stigma and its cause
Weight stigma is defined as the discrimination of overweight and obese people. According to the World Obesity Federation, this is a result of weight bias, which is basically a wrong idea about body weight. Laziness, lack of will power, a lack of moral character, bad hygiene, low level of intelligence and unattractiveness – these are all the ideologies that are associated with weight stigma.
How weight stigma affects people who are Overweight and Obese
According to multiple researches, weight stigmatization greatly affects obese and overweight patients through psychological and physical means. These impacts include depression, and anxiety, body dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem, engagement in more frequent binge eating, increased risk for eating disorder symptoms, like binge eating disorder (BED). Socially, weight stigma can also affect someone socially by social rejection, poor relationships with people, and reduced academic or work performance.
Body positivity: How can it fight weight stigmatization?
Body positivity pertains to a social movement, advocating that no matter what the shape, size, or color the bodies are, must be wholly appreciated. This movement has helped people to love and accept themselves, and it has challenge the current social construct for beauty.
According to CampusWell’s article on how to practice body positivity, there are few ways to do it:
1.Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself.
2.Practice reframing negative thoughts.
3. Remembering that it is a process. Appreciating the curves and flabs takes time and it does not need to be rushed.
4. Surrounding self with positive images. Comparing one’s body size to the current standards of beauty is considered destructive and this should not be done.
5. Stop commenting on other people’s weight. Commenting on other people’s weight is somehow harmful. One way to avoid this is to compliment other things about them, like their character.
6. Stop talking about diets – it is everyone’s right whether to participate or reject diet culture. But it is also important to remember to consume the proper quantity and quality of nutrients as a way to show love to your body.
Remember to love and accept your body for what it is, and one way of appreciating it is to take care of your health through good nutrition.
// Roan Angela G. Rillon, CMU Intern
References:
Mackenzie, M. (2022, July 1). The power of body positivity, and why weight stigma matters. CampusWell. https://www.campuswell.com/body-positivity-weight-stigma/
Muhlheim, L. (2021, June 24). What Is Weight Stigma? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-weight-stigma-1138201
National Eating Disorders Org. (n.d.). WEIGHT STIGMA. NEDA. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/weight-stigma
Obesity Action Coalition. (2020, September 1). Understanding Obesity Stigma Brochure. https://www.obesityaction.org/get-educated/public-resources/brochures-guides/understanding-obesity-stigma-brochure/
What’s the Difference Between Body Positivity and Body Neutrality? (2022, April 22). Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-positivity-vs-body-neutrality/
