Weight Discrimination In The United States

We all know that in society it is wrong to discriminate against people. There are protections against this common practice for age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, and religion. However, there are no rules or standards in place for the size of certain people, small or large. Weight discrimination is often referred to as the only form of acceptable discrimination left. Now, why is that? Weight bias is something that has been around for a long time and has long flown under the radar. With more than 2/3 of the population in the United States being considered overweight or obese, it is important for this topic to be addressed What exactly is weight bias? The most basic definition is negative attitudes toward people who we view as

Many of the consequences of weight bias include depression, anxiety, binge eating disorder, using food as a coping mechanism, social exclusion, socioeconomic impact, and an overall lowered quality of life. Some people may ask, well why don’t they just lose weight? Although studies are limited, there is proof that weight bias can actually lower engagement in physical activity. In a study where participants who had a BMI greater than 27, with the mean being BMI of 36.6, began an eighteen-week behavioral weight loss program where they participated in self monitored caloric intake physical activity, and energy expenditure. People who had more positive attitudes towards obese people to begin with were associated with more frequent self-monitoring, lower daily caloric intake, and greater amounts of daily exercise. Those who had negative attitudes toward obese people had the complete opposite of all the above mentioned. People who were more positive were also less likely to drop out of the program. Implicit bias or, attitudes that are unconscious automatic behaviors learned from repeated messages in the environment were also taken into account. These specific biases are deeply rooted within in a person. Those with greater implicit bias also showed more negative attitudes.

Education is key! Those who are educated to recognize weight bias are less likely to engage in it. A study of pre-health students separated them into three groups, each of which received different levels of educations. The intervention group received a lecture on obesity, weight bias, and the multiple determinants of weight. The comparison group received a lecture on obesity and the behavioral determinants of weight. The control group received no lecture at all. The students then had their beliefs about the controllability of weight and attitudes towards overweight and obese people analyzed. This occurred one week pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and three weeks post-intervention. Participants who were in the intervention group were less likely to believe that weight is all about an individual’s control, and held less negative attitudes toward obese and overweight people three weeks post-intervention. There were no such changes in the other two groups. Negative attitudes toward obese and overweight people actually increased over time in the control group, but did not change in the comparison and intervention groups.