Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-m9kch Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T20:10:41.129Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 5 - Weight Stigma versus Weight Inclusivity

from Section II - The Journey Toward Positive Body Image

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2021

Nichole Wood-Barcalow ,
Tracy Tylka  and
Casey Judge
Nichole Wood-Barcalow
Affiliation:
Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center, Columbus, Ohio
Tracy Tylka
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Casey Judge
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Get access

Summary

We are often evaluated and judged based on our body size and amount of body fat. We are pressured constantly by media to try to “shed that fat” and “firm up” to achieve a “healthy and attractive” body. Such media messages are fear-based and try to connect our body fat with poor health and appearance. Media want us to think, “the lower body fat we have, the better we look and feel.” After all, this mindset sells fat-loss products and exercise programs and equipment. However, research does not support the assertion that body fat causes poor health [1–4]. There are additional variables that impact the association between weight and health, such as weight stigma [5].

Type
Chapter
Information
Positive Body Image Workbook
A Clinical and Self-Improvement Guide
 , pp. 68 - 94
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Flegal, K. M., Caroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., et al. Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999–2010. JAMA 2012; 307: 491–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flegal, K. M., Kit, B. K., Orpana, H., et al. Association of all-cause mortality with overweight and obesity using standard body mass index categories: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 2013; 309: 71–82.Google Scholar
Tylka, T. L., Annunziato, R. A., Burgard, D., et al. The weight-inclusive versus weight-normative approach to health: Evaluating the evidence for prioritizing well-being over weight loss. J Obes 2014; 2014: 983495.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
LaMarre, A. and Danielsdottir, S.. Health at Every Size: A social justice-informed approach to positive embodiment. In: Tylka, T. L. and Piran, N. eds. Handbook of Positive Body Image and Embodiment: Constructs, Protective Factors, and Interventions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019: 300–11.Google Scholar
Daly, M., Sutin, A. R., and Robinson, E.. Perceived weight discrimination mediates the prospective association between obesity and physiological dysregulation: Evidence from a population-based cohort. Psychol Sci 2019; 30: 1030–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Puhl, R. M. and Heuer, C. A.. The stigma of obesity: A review and update. Obesity 2009; 17: 941–64.Google Scholar
Puhl, R. M. and Brownell, K. D.. Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obes Res 2001; 9: 788–905.Google Scholar
Brownell, K. D., Puhl, R. M., Schwartz, M. B., et al. eds. Weight Bias: Nature, Consequences, and Remedies. New York: Guilford Press, 2005.Google Scholar
Calogero, R. M., Herbozo, S., and Thompson, J. K.. Complimentary weightism: The potential costs of appearance-related commentary for women’s self-objectification. Psychol Women Q 2009; 33: 120–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flint, S. W., Nobles, J., Gately, P., et al. Weight stigma and discrimination: A call to the media. The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology 2018; 6: 169–70.Google Scholar
Lumeng, J. C., Forrest, P., Appugliese, D. P., et al. Weight status as a predictor of being bullied in third through sixth grades. Pediatrics 2010; 125: e1301–7.Google Scholar
Puhl, R. M. and Latner, J. D.. Stigma, obesity, and the health of the nation’s children. Psychol Bull 2007; 133: 557–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Phelan, S. M., Burgess, D. J., Yeazel, M. W., et al. Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity. Obes Rev 2015; 16: 319–26.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schwartz, M. B., O’Neal Chambliss, H., Brownell, K. D., et al. Weight bias among health professionals specializing in obesity. Obes Res 2003: 11: 1033–9.Google Scholar
Mulherin, K., Miller, Y. D., Barlow, F. K., et al. Weight stigma in maternity care: Women’s experiences and care providers’ attitudes. BMC Pregnancy 2013; 13: 19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Puhl, R. M. and Brownell, K. D.. Confronting and coping with weight stigma: An investigation of overweight and obese adults. Obes 2006; 14: 1802–15.Google ScholarPubMed
Cassidy, E.. Canadian woman’s obituary calls out fat-shaming in medicine. The Mighty 2018. https://themighty.com/2018/08/ellen-maud-bennett-obituary-fat-shaming-doctors/ [last accessed July 10, 2020].Google Scholar
Drury, C. A. A. and Louis, M.. Exploring the association between body weight, stigma of obesity, and health care avoidance. J Am Acad Nurse Pract 2002; 14: 554–61.Google ScholarPubMed
Mensinger, J. L., Tylka, T. L., and Calamari, M. E.. Mechanisms underlying weight status and healthcare avoidance in women: A study of weight stigma, body-related shame and guilt, and healthcare stress. Body Image 2018; 25: 139–47.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Puhl, R. M., Latner, J. D., King, K. M., et al. Weight bias among professionals treating eating disorders: Attitudes about treatment and perceived patient outcomes. Int J Eat Disord 2014: 47: 65–75.Google Scholar
Calogero, R. M., Tylka, T. L., Mensinger, J. L., et al. Recognizing the fundamental right to be fat: A weight-inclusive approach to size acceptance and healing from sizeism. Women Ther 2019: 42: 22–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Estabrooks, P. A., Lee, R. E., and Gyurcisk, N. C.. Resources for physical activity participation: Does availability and accessibility differ by neighborhood socioeconomic status? Ann Behav Med 2003; 25: 100–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barry, V. W., Baruth, M., Beets, M. W., et al. Fitness vs. fatness on all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2014; 56: 382–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacLean, P. S., Bergouignan, A., Cornier, M., et al. Biology’s response to dieting: The impetus for weight regain. Am J of Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2011; 301: R581–600.Google Scholar
Sumithran, P. and Proietto, J.. The defence of body weight: A physiological basis for weight regain after weight loss. Clin Sci 2013; 124: 231–41.Google Scholar
Tylka, T. L., Calogero, R. M., and Daníelsdóttir, S.. Is intuitive eating the same as flexible dietary control? Their links to each other and well-being could provide an answer. Appetite 2015; 95: 166–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tylka, T. L., Calogero, R. M., and Daníelsdóttir, S.. Intuitive eating is connected to self-reported weight stability in community women and men. Eat Disord 2019; 28: 256–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, J. W., Konz, E. C., Frederich, R. C., et al. Long-term weight-loss maintenance: A meta-analysis of US studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2001; 74: 579–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stice, E., Burger, K., and Yokum, S.. Caloric deprivation increases responsivity of attention and reward brain regions to intake, anticipated intake, and images of palatable foods. NeuroImage 2013; 67: 322–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larson, N. I., Story, M. T., and Nelson, M. C.. Neighborhood environments: Disparities in access to healthy foods in the U.S. Am J Prev Med 2009; 36: 74–81.Google Scholar
Crawford, D., Timperio, A., Giles-Corti, B., et al. Do features of public open spaces vary according to neighbourhood socioeconomic status? Health Place 2008; 14: 889–93.Google Scholar
Tomiyama, A. J.. Weight stigma is stressful. A review of evidence for the Cyclic Obesity/Weight-Based Stigma model. Appetite 2014; 82: 8–15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vartanian, L. R. and Novak, S. A.. Internalized societal attitudes moderate the impact of weight stigma on avoidance of exercise. Obes 2011; 19: 757–62.Google Scholar
Puhl, R. M., Moss-Racusin, C. A., and Schwartz, M. B.. Internalization of weight bias: Implications for binge eating and emotional well-being. Obes 2007; 15: 19–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Durso, L. E. and Latner, J. D.. Understanding self-directed stigma: Development of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale. Obes 2008; 16: S80–6.Google Scholar
Pearl, R. L. and Puhl, R. M.. Measuring internalized weight attitudes across body weight categories: Validation of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale. Body Image 2014; 11: 89–92.Google Scholar
Pearl, R. L. and Puhl, R. M.. Weight bias internalization and health: A systematic review. Obes Rev 2018; 19: 1141–63.Google Scholar
Crawford, R.. Healthism and the medicalization of everyday life. Int J Hum Serv 1980; 10: 365–88.Google Scholar
Crawford, R.. Health as a meaningful social practice. Health 2006; 10: 401–20.Google ScholarPubMed
Robison, J. and Kratina, K.. Health at Every Size, Health for Every Body. In: Kratina, K., King, N., and Hayes, D. eds. Moving Away from Diets, 2nd ed. Lake Dallas, Texas: Helm Publishing, 2003: 27–47.Google Scholar
Association for Size Diversity and Health. The Health at Every Size® approach. Available at: www.sizediversityandhealth.org/images/uploaded/ASDAH%20HAES%20Principles.pdf [last accessed July 10, 2020].Google Scholar
Bacon, L. and Aphramor, L.. Weight science: Evaluating the evidence for a paradigm shift. Nutr J 2011; 10: 9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bacon, L., Stern, J. S., Van Loan, M. D., et al. Size acceptance and intuitive eating improve health for obese, female chronic dieters. J Am Diet Assoc 2005; 105: 929–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bacon, L., Keim, N. L., van Loan, M. D., et al. Evaluating a “non-diet” wellness intervention for improvement of metabolic fitness, psychological well-being and eating and activity behaviors. Int J Obes 2002; 26: 854–65.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×