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Study shows weight
discrimination increasing
(June 2008
Issue)
By Elinor Nelson
It's considered politically incorrect to blatantly discriminate
on the basis of race, age and sex - not to mention illegal - but
a new study shows that the message has not penetrated when it comes
to discrimination against the overweight. In fact, this brand of
discrimination has increased by 66 percent in the last decade and
close relationship partners were reported to be the worst offenders.
The study also documented name calling and overt insults, weight
discrimination in the workplace, overweight women experiencing more
stigma than men and people with higher (Body Mass Indexes) BMIs
being more likely targets.
Lead researcher Rebecca Puhl, Ph.D, director of research at Yale
University's Rudd Center points out that "it remains very socially
acceptable" to stigmatize the overweight and that the lack of a
legal prohibition "can send a message." She sees media portrayals
contributing to the problem because they're "extremely negative
and only getting worse." She also blames "a widespread perception
that the issue is one of personal willpower or choice. . . The notion
that significant weight loss can be sustained over time doesn't
reflect the current state of science." People can lose 10 percent
of their weight and keep it off, she says, but for most, a greater
permanent weight loss is just not sustainable. Puhl states that
personal behavior is only one piece of the puzzle and that genetics,
biology and one's environment are all part of the equation.
So how is a psychologist to best serve an overweight patient? "Mental
health professionals need to recognize that they are not immune
to bias," Puhl says. "They need to be aware of their own assumptions
about body weight and challenge these assumptions. They need to
recognize that before the patient came to their office, they were
the target of stigma or victimization and the therapist needs to
be sensitive about these experiences. There are very few outlets
for support and [the therapist] plays an important role in offering
support and helping them cope with adaptive ways." Psychologists
must also, she warns, be aware of how vulnerable children are and
protect them.
The data in question was gathered from two waves of the National
Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, from 1995-1996
and 2004-2006. The study was limited to adults aged 35-74 in both
waves and included 1,826 respondents in the first wave and 1,136
in the second. The prevalence of weight discrimination increased
from 7.3 percent in the first wave to 12.2 percent in the second.
On average, discrimination against overweight women increased from
10 to 15.5 percent and against men from 4.1 to 8.1 percent. Rates
were dramatically higher for those with higher BMIs. People who
experienced weight prejudice were shown to experience poorer body
image and psychosocial functioning and were more likely to cope
by eating more food and refusing to diet.
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