Weight Discrimination Induces Obese People to Gain More Weight: Study

Criticizing and making obese people feel conscious about their flabby body will not encourage them to lose weight, according to a study.

People who are overweight and obese face discrimination and jokes about their physical appearances. These reactions can either motivate them to lose excess pounds or just eat more in defiance. A recent research by the University College London found shaming people about their body weight is not the right way to induce them to shed some flab but, it can drive them to do to the opposite. The experts observed more than 3,000 adults for four years and noted down their experiences of weight discrimination, weight gain and harassment.

Almost one in 20 were subject to weight discrimination and similar treatment was meted out to nearly one in three morbidly obese individuals. The analysis also revealed people who were badgered with negative remarks about their weight would resort to eating fatty and junk food to seek comfort. This made them drastically gain more bulge.

Past trials suggest discrimination, peer victimization and bullying can have detrimental effect on mental health and physical well-being. The study urges healthcare providers, family members and peers to be supportive and encouraging toward those with unhealthy body structure.

"There is no justification for discriminating against people because of their weight. Previous studies have found that people who experience discrimination report comfort eating. Stress responses to discrimination can increase appetite, particularly for unhealthy, energy-dense food," said Sarah Jackson, study author and researcher at the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London, reports the BBC.

"Weight discrimination has also been shown to make people feel less confident about taking part in physical activity, so they tend to avoid it," she adds.

More information is available online in the journal Obesity.