All articles tagged with #weight stigma
The documentary 'Fit for TV' critically examines the toxic aspects of 'The Biggest Loser,' highlighting issues like the show's promotion of weight as a sole health measure, questionable medical practices, contestant exploitation, and the reinforcement of weight stigma, while also noting areas it didn't fully explore such as systemic factors influencing weight and the broader impact of the show on public perceptions of health.
A study finds that weight stigma, rather than weight loss itself, significantly impacts mental health outcomes after bariatric surgery, highlighting the importance of addressing societal bias at all stages of weight management.
A study by the University of Bristol reveals that children who experience weight-based teasing and pressure from family members to lose weight are more likely to internalize weight stigma as adults, regardless of their actual weight. This self-stigma can lead to negative effects on psychological health, including increased risk of eating disorders and a drive for thinness. The study, which followed over 4,000 children into adulthood, emphasizes the long-lasting impact of parental and familial pressure on body image and urges parents to promote healthy habits without emphasizing the need to be thin. Additionally, the study found that childhood bullying also contributes to greater weight stigma in adulthood, and further research is needed to understand the impact of social media on body image.
Oprah Winfrey's new ABC special promotes the use of expensive weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, while also addressing fat stigma as a disease akin to alcoholism. However, her endorsement of weight loss drugs is met with skepticism due to their high price point, potential long-term effects, and her history of endorsing junk science. The special's message is appealing, but it's unclear if there's any financial incentive for Winfrey to endorse weight loss drugs, given her past involvement with WeightWatchers.
Oprah Winfrey hosted a prime-time special focusing on the rise of weight loss drugs and the stigma surrounding weight and weight loss. The special highlighted the impact of new drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro on the conversation about treating obesity and aimed to address the shame and judgment associated with weight. Many patients who use these medications have felt shamed for struggling with their weight and then shamed for taking weight loss drugs, prompting a shift in how people think about managing obesity.
The discussion around body weight has evolved with the body positivity movement and the classification of obesity as a disease, leading to changing attitudes and the development of powerful weight loss medications. However, weight stigma remains widespread, and the use of these medications is often accompanied by shame. The traditional method of categorizing weight using body mass index is flawed, and there's a growing understanding that different types of obesity may require different treatments. The arrival of effective new medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, is seen as revolutionary, but societal attitudes toward weight and weight loss still need to evolve.
Esther Hollander shares her experience with lipedema, a connective tissue disease that causes abnormal fat buildup in the lower extremities. Lipedema, often misdiagnosed as obesity, affects 1 in 72,000 people, mostly women. Hollander's struggle with weight and the societal pressure to conform to certain beauty standards took a toll on her self-esteem. After years of unsuccessful diets and weight fluctuations, she discovered she had lipedema, which explained the rapid growth of fat in her lower body. The condition is resistant to traditional diet and exercise, but surgical intervention and other treatments can help alleviate symptoms and improve mobility. Hollander emphasizes the importance of medical professionals taking lipedema seriously and not dismissing it as a result of obesity.
Oprah Winfrey discussed weight stigma during a panel on obesity and weight crisis, revealing that she noticed people treating her differently when she weighed over 200 lbs. She highlighted the condescension and stigma she experienced while shopping. Winfrey also spoke about her own weight loss journey and the pressure she faced from tabloids. She questioned the need for weight loss drugs and emphasized the importance of body acceptance and personal choice.
The Washington Post hosted a conversation with Susan Z. Yanovski and Ruth Marcus about the societal stigma around weight, the growing popularization of weight loss drugs, and the complexity of obesity treatment. Over 40% of Americans are living with obesity and seeking treatment through medication and procedures.
BMI, or body mass index, is a crude measurement of body fat based on height and weight that can be inaccurate in some cases. While it is useful for researchers studying the link between weight and chronic disease, critics argue that it perpetuates weight stigma and misconceptions about body weight. Other measurement tools, such as waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, are being considered but are not yet practical for clinical use. Doctors should consider the whole patient and not rely solely on BMI to determine health status. Chronic disease can follow if excess weight is carried over a long period of time, as fat cells emit inflammatory signals that can lead to health complications.
People with larger bodies who struggle with eating disorders frequently face bias from the people who are supposed to help them, according to experts. Clinicians often fail to identify eating disorders in larger patients to begin with. Weight bias still exists among eating disorder professionals, and it can have unintended consequences for people trying to recover. There is little consensus about how to protect young people seeking treatment for eating disorders from harmful ideas about weight, or whether treatments for obesity and eating disorders can safely coexist at all within the medical system.
Carrying too much fat is bad for your health as it can lead to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Fat cells expand and shrink when you gain or lose weight, but the actual number of fat cells doesn't change much. Everyone has a different safe fat-carrying capacity, depending on their genetics, and surpassing it can lead to illness. The ability to determine a person's safe fat-carrying capacity is the subject of cutting-edge genetic and biological research, which could transform the way we consider the definition of obesity and who needs to lose weight.