Men May Experience Weight Stigma at Rates Similar to Women

Negative biases against people with obesity are widespread and can contribute to physical and emotional health problems. Studies of weight stigma often focus on women and indicate that women experience weight strigma more than men. Recent evidence, however, suggests the gap between men and women in experiencing weight stigma may be smaller than previously thought. Yet little research has been conducted on weight stigma in men exclusively – until now. 

A new study of weight stigma in men by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut found that a signifcant portion of adult American men reported being mistreated about their weight. The findings suggest that men may be experiencing weight stigma at similar rates relative to women.