These studies, which compared experiences of adults in
Across each of the six countries investigated, participants who had experienced weight stigma reported more frequent judgment from doctors due to their weight, and felt that their doctors less frequently listened carefully to them or respected what they had to say. The researchers also found that internalization of weight bias may be especially detrimental for health care behaviors like obtaining less frequent checkups and avoiding health care altogether.
'Despite decades of studies on weight stigma, international comparative research is lacking,' says
Building on a 2020 international consensus statement calling for the elimination of weight stigma, supported by more than 100 medical and scientific organizations worldwide, researchers partnered with
Key findings include:
At least half (56-61%) of people in each country reported they had experienced weight stigma.
High percentages of participants in each country experienced weight stigma from family members (76%-88%), classmates (72%-81%), doctors (63%-74%), coworkers (54%-62%), and friends (49%-66%).
In all countries, weight stigma experiences were most frequent in childhood and adolescence, with associated distress highest during these time periods.
Across all six countries, those with higher levels of self-blame for their weight were more likely to avoid health care, obtained less frequent checkups, and perceived their health care quality to be lower.
Study findings, published in the
'The fact that family members are such common sources of weight stigma across these countries indicates a collective need to address weight stigma within the family environment, and to help families engage in more supportive communication with their loved ones. For many people, these experiences begin in youth from parents and close family members, and they can last for many years and have long-term negative consequences,' says Puhl. 'Our results also provide a compelling reason to step up international efforts to reduce weight biases held by medical professionals. We must prioritize efforts to establish a health care culture free of weight stigma, and we also need to work collaboratively to develop supportive interventions to help people when they do experience this stigma.'
These studies were supported by a grant from
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