You say it doesn't matter what other people think of you—but Purdue University sociologists beg to differ. Obese people who feel stigmatized for their weight are worse-off than obese people who don't report weight discrimination, reports a new study in Social Psychology Quarterly.
Researchers surveyed people about their health, weight, perception of their weight, their ability to perform everyday tasks, and their perception of discrimination.
Out of the moderately and severely obese subjects, those who reported weight discrimination experienced the sharpest increase in disability over time. Even less obese subjects had a steeper decline in their abilities if they felt stigmatized—in comparison to heavier people who didn't perceive discrimination.
"People internalize the sense of unfair treatment," says Kenneth F. Ferraro, Ph.D., professor at Purdue University, and coauthor of the study. "This may also contribute to disability."
Previous research has shown that discrimination related to race or ethnicity elicits a stress response in the body that can compromise both physical and mental health. It's even linked to high blood pressure, anxiety disorder, and depression. This study is the first to find that weight discrimination may add to the health risks of obesity.
If you're obese and feel discriminated against, talk with someone—a friend or a counselor—about what happened, Ferraro recommends. "Open discussion may help you realize you're not alone in this experience." And if you'd like to make a change, join the FREE Belly Off! Club—where you'll find plenty of community support to go along with meal plans and exercise routines that'll help you shed pounds.
As for normal-weight people out there, "Remember that people are more than their body weight," says Ferraro. "We have to recognize what everyone contributes to society and that they're more than a number on a scale."
Thanks to Jessica Levine / Men's Health
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