Weight stigma and discrimination: psychological and social determinants and the implications for behaviour and health

Very little attention has been given to unintended consequences of government reporting on obesity. This paper argues that the 2016 Senate report, “Obesity in Canada: A Whole-Of-Society Approach,” exemplifies the systemic public health issue of weight stigma. The purpose of this viewpoint is to critique the approach taken in the Report, by illustrating that it (1) takes a weight-centric approach to health, (2) does not acknowledge important limitations of the definition and measurement of obesity, (3) reifies obesity as a categorical phenomenon that must be prevented, and (4) uses aggressive framing and disrespectful terminology. The Report perpetuates a focus on the individual, thereby failing to recognize the role that governments can play in reducing weight stigma and addressing social determinants of health. If steps are taken to avoid propagating weight stigma, future reports could more constructively address health promotion, equity, and social determinants of health in their policies.

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Weight stigma and discrimination: a call to the media

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology ◽

10.1016/s2213-8587(18)30041-x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 169-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Stuart W Flint ◽

James Nobles ◽

Paul Gately ◽

Pinki Sahota

Keyword(s):

Weight Stigma ◽

Stigma And Discrimination ◽

The Media

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Social Determinants of Stigma and Discrimination in Vietnamese Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16030398 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 398 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Thieu Le ◽

Thuc Vu ◽

Hue Mai ◽

Long Nguyen ◽

Nu Truong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Community Based Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Stigma And Discrimination ◽

Related Stigma

Vietnam is among the countries with the highest prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and individuals who suffer from CHB oftentimes perceive high levels of stigma and discrimination. Our study aimed to provide evidence on the prevalence of stigma against hepatitis B virus (HBV), HBV infection, and social determinants of stigma and discrimination in patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Viet-Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong, Vietnam. Stigma and discrimination against CHB in the last month were measured via four dimensions: (1) Blame/Judgment; (2) Shame; (3) Discrimination in different settings; (4) Disclosure of CHB status. Multivariate Logistic and Tobit regressions were used to identify factors associated with CHB-related stigma and discrimination. Among 298 enrolled patients, 4.8% experienced blame/judgement, 10.2% perceived shame, 48.5% felt discriminated in healthcare facilities, and 90.6% disclosed their health status with spouses/partners. Factors associated with lower odds of CHB-related stigma/discrimination included living with spouses/partners, old age, being employed, and the existence of comorbidities was linked with higher odds of stigma. Anti-stigma programs should target those who are younger and have comorbidities. This could be done by community-based interventions which focus on inaccurate beliefs about viral hepatitis. Furthermore, families, healthcare providers, and society should play a crucial role in supporting CHB patients.

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Policy Initiatives to Promote Positive Embodiment and Reduce Weight Stigma

Handbook of Positive Body Image and Embodiment ◽

10.1093/med-psych/9780190841874.003.0038 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 409-422

Author(s):

Rebecca M. Puhl ◽

Mary S. Himmelstein

Keyword(s):

Public Attitudes ◽

Policy Research ◽

Weight Stigma ◽

Policy Initiatives ◽

Stigma And Discrimination ◽

The World ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Policy Measures ◽

Future Policy ◽

Equitable Treatment

Weight-based stigma and discrimination exist toward individuals whose body size deviates from stringent societal ideals of thinness. Growing concerns about the prevalence and damaging consequences of weight-based bullying, stigma, and discrimination have led to increasing calls for policy measures to protect people from weight-based prejudice on a broader scale. This chapter reviews policy and legal efforts that have been proposed or implemented to facilitate positive embodiment for youth and adults, including evidence on public attitudes about policies and laws that aim to reduce weight-based bullying and discrimination. In addition, policy initiatives and research evidence in North America, Europe, and other parts of the world are highlighted, including the strengths and limitations of these efforts. Directions for future policy research and advocacy efforts are identified that can improve on existing legal initiatives to promote equitable treatment of individuals of diverse body sizes.

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Obesity, Weight Stigma and Discrimination

Journal of Obesity & Eating Disorders ◽

10.21767/2471-8203.100016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sarah E Jackson

Keyword(s):

Weight Stigma ◽

Stigma And Discrimination

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Experiences of weight stigma in everyday life: An ecological momentary assessment study

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105320934179 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 135910532093417

Author(s):

Lindsey Potter ◽

Angela Meadows ◽

Joshua Smyth

Keyword(s):

Everyday Life ◽

Ecological Momentary Assessment ◽

Weight Stigma ◽

Future Research ◽

Stigma And Discrimination ◽

Assessment Study ◽

Nature Frequency ◽

Ecological Momentary ◽

Negative Health Outcomes ◽

Momentary Assessment

Weight stigma and discrimination have been linked to negative health outcomes. Most research on this topic is retrospective, which may not accurately capture day-to-day experiences. The current used ecological momentary assessment to examine weight stigma and discrimination in everyday life. Participants answered ecological momentary assessments about the nature, frequency, and contextual details of weight stigma and discrimination. Over the course of the study, only eight episodes of weight stigma and discrimination were reported. Given that prior ecological momentary assessment studies reported substantially more frequent weight stigma and discrimination, possible explanations for the findings and implications for future research are discussed.

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