Mental DailyMental Daily
  • Clinical
  • Health
  • I/O
  • Cybernetic
  • Social
  • More
    • Opinion
    • The Discussion
    • My Bookmarks
Aa
Mental Daily
Aa
  • Clinical
  • Health
  • I/O
  • Cybernetic
  • Social
  • Opinion
Search
  • Clinical
  • Health
  • I/O
  • Cybernetic
  • Social
  • More
    • Opinion
    • The Discussion
    • My Bookmarks
Follow US
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Inc. Profile
  • Google Play Store
© 2022 - Mental Daily. All Rights Reserved.
Health

Stigma about a woman’s weight is fueled by body shape, not amount of fat

Staff Writer
Staff Writer 1 year ago
Updated 2021/05/12 at 6:20 PM
Share
SHARE

Over at Arizona State University, a group of scientists determined that a woman’s body shape, and not particularly the body fat, is the leading factor of stigma when it comes to obesity.

The findings appeared in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Stigma toward the bodyweight or appearance of an individual is a form of prejudice, which often could lead to psychological problems for the affected individual.

For the study, the Arizona State group tested how the location of fat on the body impacted stigma, recruiting female participants regarded as average-weight, overweight, and obese.

According to researchers, women were stigmatized based on the type of fat and location on the body; for example, abdominal and gluteofemoral fat.

“The study participants stigmatized obese women more than overweight women and also overweight women more than average-weight women,” a news release of the findings read.

“But women with overweight who weighed the same were less stigmatized when they carried gluteofemoral fat than when they carried abdominal fat. This same pattern held for women with obesity, suggesting that body shape, in addition to overall body size, drives stigmatization.”

The notion that body shape drives stigmatization, as opposed to particular body fat, was evident even across various ethnicities and cultures, the study found. A number of people of both White and Black heritage, along with people in India, experienced similar stigmatization.

“This finding suggests that body shape is sometimes even more important than overall size in driving fat stigma,” researchers concluded.

Photo: Shutterstock

You Might Also Like

Study finds diet may be a contributing factor in ADHD symptoms associated in children

How blueberry consumption may lower the risk of developing dementia

Food marketing is associated with a rise in junk food consumption among children and adolescents

New research of vegetarian diets uncovered similar growth and nutrition as meat consumers

Being overweight during childhood may raise the risk of type 1 diabetes

TAGGED: body weight, stigma, diet, obesity
Staff Writer February 17, 2021
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Print
Previous Article Non-heterosexual people more likely to suffer from mental illness and substance abuse
Next Article African-American women with hypertension more likely to be diagnosed with depression

Recommended

Clinical

Study finds diet may be a contributing factor in ADHD symptoms associated in children

1 Min Read
Clinical

How blueberry consumption may lower the risk of developing dementia

2 Min Read
I/O

Food marketing is associated with a rise in junk food consumption among children and adolescents

1 Min Read
Health

New research of vegetarian diets uncovered similar growth and nutrition as meat consumers

1 Min Read
//

We are a trusted online source for research news and resources on all aspects of the mind and human behavior.

Verticals

  • Clinical
  • Health
  • Social
  • I/O
  • Opinion

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Inc. Profile
  • Google Play Store

Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Follow US

© 2022 Mental Daily. All Rights Reserved.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Inc. Profile
  • Google Play Store

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?