Fat discrimination, which some call the “last acceptable basis of discrimination”, is heightening the slope for some into obesity.
A study of 3,000 Americans revealed that those who faced discrimination for being overweight had “steeper declines in health”.
Sadly, one-third of morbidly obese people reported facing discrimination in their work force, communities and basic service.
That’s terrible!
Markus Schafer, lead author of the study published in Social Psychology Quarterly, says:
├óΓé¼┼ôThere are inappropriate and appropriate ways” to encourage weight loss. To discriminate overtly, those types of behaviors can actually do more harm than good.”
Duh! It only adds further insult to injury and does not encourage them to lose weight or become healther as Schafer continues:
“Obese people who face discrimination basically face a double jeopardy. They face health challenges on two fronts: They face dangers in health related to physiological effects of carrying a lot of weight, but those effects can be confounded by mistreatment by others.”
Ugh! We really hope people learn to accept people for who they are, but more importantly, learn how to approach someone with concerns for their healthy in a friendly, mature, and supportive tone.
[Image via AP Images.]