The Ongoing Stigma of Excess Weight

A study, by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, The University of Manchester, and Monash University sought to prove that even after weight loss, women do not escape the stigma-related ill effects of obesity. Indeed, those who were currently thinner, but had been obese in the past were seen as less attractive than women who had remained relatively constant in their weight regardless of whether it was currently high or low.

Read this article at Medical News Today: Even After Weight Loss, Female Fat Prejudice Persists

Our Take: The average person’s view of obesity and excess weight has been skewed by years of being told that losing weight is easy and that obesity is somehow a choice. Many people who are suffering from obesity truly cannot help it. This stigma makes it all the harder for them if they believe that they may be viewed as unattractive or less attractive because of their weight history. This study does prove that the discussion that revolves around obesity and weight loss needs to fundamentally change. This is especially necessary due to the fact that so many Americans are now overweight or obese. Changing the discussion will likely empower those who need to lose weight to actively seek out effective options to manage it.