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Weight stigmatization and bias reduction: perspectives of overweight and obese adults.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Puhl, RM; Moss-Racusin, CA; Schwartz, MB; Brownell, KD
Published in: Health education research
April 2008

This study employed qualitative methods with a sample of overweight and obese adults to identify and describe their subjective experiences of weight bias. Participants (274 females and 44 males) completed an online battery of self-report questionnaires, including several open-ended questions about weight stigmatization. These questions asked them to describe their worst experiences of weight stigmatization, their perceptions of common weight-based stereotypes, their feelings about being overweight and their suggestions for strategies to reduce weight stigma in our culture. Participants reported experiencing weight stigma across a range of contexts and involving a variety of interpersonal sources. Close relationship partners (such as friends, parents and spouses) were the most common source of their worst stigmatizing encounters. Participants challenged common weight-based stereotypes (notably, that obese individuals are 'lazy') and reported that they would like the public to gain a better understanding of the difficulties of weight loss, the causes of obesity and the emotional consequences of being stigmatized. Education was reported as the most promising avenue for future stigma-reduction efforts. The experiences and opinions expressed were not significantly different for men versus women or overweight versus obese individuals. A minority of participants expressed beliefs suggestive of self-blame and internalization of weight-based stereotypes. These results indicate that while obese individuals experience weight bias across many domains, more stigma-reduction efforts should target stigmatizing encounters in close relationships, including parents, spouses and friends of obese persons.

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Published In

Health education research

DOI

EISSN

1465-3648

ISSN

0268-1153

Publication Date

April 2008

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

347 / 358

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Time Factors
  • Social Support
  • Sex Factors
  • Qualitative Research
  • Public Health
  • Prejudice
  • Overweight
  • Obesity
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

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MLA
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Puhl, R. M., Moss-Racusin, C. A., Schwartz, M. B., & Brownell, K. D. (2008). Weight stigmatization and bias reduction: perspectives of overweight and obese adults. Health Education Research, 23(2), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cym052
Puhl, Rebecca M., Corinne A. Moss-Racusin, Marlene B. Schwartz, and Kelly D. Brownell. “Weight stigmatization and bias reduction: perspectives of overweight and obese adults.Health Education Research 23, no. 2 (April 2008): 347–58. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cym052.
Puhl RM, Moss-Racusin CA, Schwartz MB, Brownell KD. Weight stigmatization and bias reduction: perspectives of overweight and obese adults. Health education research. 2008 Apr;23(2):347–58.
Puhl, Rebecca M., et al. “Weight stigmatization and bias reduction: perspectives of overweight and obese adults.Health Education Research, vol. 23, no. 2, Apr. 2008, pp. 347–58. Epmc, doi:10.1093/her/cym052.
Puhl RM, Moss-Racusin CA, Schwartz MB, Brownell KD. Weight stigmatization and bias reduction: perspectives of overweight and obese adults. Health education research. 2008 Apr;23(2):347–358.
Journal cover image

Published In

Health education research

DOI

EISSN

1465-3648

ISSN

0268-1153

Publication Date

April 2008

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

347 / 358

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Time Factors
  • Social Support
  • Sex Factors
  • Qualitative Research
  • Public Health
  • Prejudice
  • Overweight
  • Obesity
  • Middle Aged