Study Shows The Negative Effects Of Fat-Shaming

Fat-shaming, or the act of degrading a person for being overweight, can do much more harm than good, according to a recent study from the University of Pennsylvania.

In a study from UPenn’s Perelman School of Medicine, researchers found that individuals with high weight bias internalization were more likely to develop cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Internalized weight bias occurs when people apply negative stereotypes about weight, such as laziness, physical unattractiveness, and low societal value, to themselves.

“There is a common misconception that stigma might help motivate individuals with obesity to lose weight and improve their health,” said Rebecca Pearl, an assistant professor of Psychology in Psychiatry. “We are finding it has quite the opposite effect. When people feel shamed because of their weight, they are more likely to avoid exercise and consume more calories to cope with this stress.”

The study, which examined 159 adults with obesity, found that subjects who tested “high” for internalized weight bias were demonstrably less healthy than those with low weight bias internalization. Subjects with high levels of internalization were three times as likely to have metabolic syndrome — a group of risk factors, like high blood pressure and blood pressure, that increases one’s risk for heart disease and other health problems — and six times as likely to have high triglycerides, another factor that can lead to heart disease, as well as diabetes and stroke.

“Health care providers, the media, and the general public should be aware blaming and shaming patients with obesity is not an effective tool for promoting weight loss,” said Professor Tom Wadden, a co-author of the study. “Providers can play a critical role in decreasing this internalization by treating patients with respect, discussing weight with sensitivity and without judgment, and giving support and encouragement to patients who struggle with weight management — behaviors everyone should display when interacting with people with obesity.”