Weight stigmatization toward youth: A significant problem in need of societal solutions
Overweight and obese youth face frequent stigmatization because of their excess weight, most often in the form of teasing and bullying. Weight stigmatization in youth begins early in childhood and is prevalent in the school setting by adolescence. Not only are obese youth vulnerable to stigmatization from peers, but increasing studies also indicate that educators and even parents are sources of weight bias. This has concerning implications for children’s health, because research over the past decade has consistently demonstrated links between weight-based stigmatization and negative outcomes for psychological, social, and physical well-being.
To reduce weight-based stigmatization and protect obese youth from the deleterious effects of victimization, efforts are needed to identify and evaluate successful methods to reduce bias toward obese youths, implement effective school-based policies that prohibit weight-based victimization, and ensure that initiatives to address childhood obesity do not impose further stigmatization on overweight and obese youth.
Full citation: Puhl RM. Weight Stigmatization Toward Youth: A Significant Problem in Need of Societal Solutions. Childhood Obesity. 2011;7(5):359-363. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2011.0500.pers