Obesity, Stigma And Discrimination
M. Jane Fulton, Vijay N. Srinivasan
Abstract
Obesity is a complex medical disease and a significant public health issue in the United States as it has become a worsening epidemic. Obesity is defined by the body mass index (BMI), which is calculated using one’s weight (in kilograms) by the square of one’s height (in meters). According to the BMI classification, a BMI equal to or greater than 25 is overweight, and a value equal to or greater than 30 is obese. As obesity rates have increased, so have stereotypes and biases about obese individuals. Modern society has adopted negative beliefs that obese individuals are lazy, irresponsible, and lack self-discipline even though genetic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors play a role in the development of obesity. These negative attitudes towards obese individuals have created a negative stigma that leads to prejudice and discrimination. The weight stigma is a growing concern as it has increased by two-thirds in the last decade. The current societal belief is that labeling an individual as “obese” will motivate weight loss. On the contrary, research has shown that weight stigma leads to adverse physical and psychological health consequences for this population.