What You Need To Know About Obesophobia: The Fear Of Gaining Weight

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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:43 Causes of Obesophobia
1:29 Symptoms of Obesophobia
2:17 diagnosis of Obesophobia
2:47 Treatment of Obesophobia

Social stigma of obesity is broadly defined as bias or discriminatory behaviors targeted at overweight and obese individuals because of their weight.[1][2] Such social stigmas can span one's entire life, as long as excess weight is present, starting from a young age and lasting into adulthood.[3] Several studies from across the world (e.g., United States, University of Marburg, University of Leipzig) indicate overweight and obese individuals experience higher levels of stigma relative to their thinner counterparts. In addition, they marry less often, experience fewer educational and career opportunities, and on average earn a lesser income than normal weight individuals.[3] Although public support regarding disability services, civil rights, and anti-workplace discrimination laws for obese individuals have gained support across the years, overweight and obese individuals still experience discrimination, which may have detrimental implications in relation to both physiological[4] and psychological health. These issues are compounded by the significant negative physiological effects that are already associated with obesity,[5] which some have proposed may be caused by stress from the social stigma of obesity, rather than from obesity per se.[4]

Anti-fat bias refers to prejudicial assumptions that are based on an assessment of a person as being overweight or obese. It is also known as "fat shaming". Anti-fat bias can be found in many facets of society,[6] and fat activists commonly blame popular media for the pervasiveness of this phenomenon.[7][8] Research indicates that self-reported incidents of weight-based discrimination have increased in the last few decades.[9] Individuals who are subjected to weight-related stigma appear to be rated more negatively when compared with other groups, such as sexual minorities and those with mental illness.[10]

Anti-fat bias has been observed in groups hoping to become physical education instructors. In one study, a group of 344 psychology or physical education majors at a New Zealand University were compared, and it was found that the prospective physical education teachers were more likely to display implicit anti-fat attitudes than the psychology majors.[11]

A number of studies have found that health care providers frequently have explicit and/or implicit biases against overweight people, and it has been found that overweight patients may receive lower quality care as a result of their weight.[12] Medical professionals who specialize in the treatment of obesity have been found to have strong negative associations toward obese individuals.[13] The stress from obesity-related stigma may also cause negative health outcomes.[4]

In one study, preschool-aged children reported a preference for average-sized children over overweight children as friends.[14] As a consequence of anti-fat bias, overweight individuals often find themselves suffering repercussions in many facets of society, including legal and employment issues later in their life.[6]

According to a 2010 review of published studies, interventions seeking to reduce prejudice and social stigma against fat and obesity are largely ineffective.[15]