Stigma on Obesity

Stigma on obesity

Stigma is often unfair. It does not consider the feelings of the people involved. It is a collection of various negative principals that people have about something. Stigma of obesity is causing psychological problems to the people that are obese. These people are disadvantaged when it comes to various issues just because they are obese. Adults as well as children face this stigmatization. Most of them are viewed as lazy, weak-willed and less intelligent as compared to the non-obese people. People see them as sick people who are not willing to do anything about their bodies. When it comes to issues such as; marriage, employment and educational issues, the obese face serious discrimination. Such discrimination has adverse effects on the physical health of the obese (Puhl and Heuer p1).

Stigmatization may cause emotional problems when obesity is assumed to be easily prevented by self-control. Thus, the obese person is viewed as a failure. At work obese people are seen as lazy, less competent and lack self-discipline (Puhl and Heuer p2).  They are rarely promoted and more often paid less as compared to others are also they more prone to layoffs. In school obese students are bullied or teased by their peers. The teachers also have biased attitudes towards them. Stigmatization causes physical health, psychological and social consequences to the people involved. It can result in depression, low self-esteem, excessive dieting, and anorexia among other complications.

Various authors have written about obesity either in the United States or in the United Kingdom. The articles have been based on the various researchers that have been done and their findings. Others are just about what the authors think are the solution or causes of obesity in general. According to Jacques Peretti, 60% of UK’s population is obese. Most of the people classified as overweight are dieting and is not necessary for them to lose weight. I do not agree with Jacques in this area because for one to be considered obese, they have to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30. I agree with him that most of the weight programs are just out there to make more money. The same people who sell the junk foods are the same people who are in charge of the weight watching programs. For example the Slimfast that was later brought by Unilever. Unilever is the owner of the Wall’s sausages and the Ben & Jerry brand. The organizations are just out there to make more money the obese people who are willing to do anything shed of excess week (p1- p3).