Health News

Blog Chatter

What are tags?

List

skip3366 on AP IMPACT: US wavered over S. Korean executions
greyfx2 on Foreclosures to rise, whomever wins White House
tuffyz on Republican Party ad assails Obama on energy
wal5we on NASA Photos Solve 30-Year Mystery
tanchampagne on Little Green Men Rejoice

Feed

Top stories submitted and voted on from Propeller.

Is Weight Bias as Common as Racism?

By Svetlana Shkolnikova,

USA Today

Posted: 2008-05-21 12:00:32

Filed Under: Health News

(May 21) — Weight discrimination, especially against women, is increasing in U.S. society and is almost as common as racial discrimination, two studies suggest.

Reported discrimination based on weight has increased 66% in the past decade, up from about 7% to 12% of U.S. adults, says one study, in the journal Obesity. The other study, in the International Journal of Obesity, says such discrimination is common in both institutional and interpersonal situations — and in some cases is even more prevalent than rates of discrimination based on gender and race. (About 17% of men and 9% of women reported race discrimination.)

Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images

Two studies looked at whether overweight people experienced discrimination or harassment in work, health care, school and social settings. "Weight discrimination is a very serious social problem that we need to pay attention to," one researcher said.

Among severely obese people, about 28% of men and 45% of women said they have experienced discrimination because of their weight.

"Weight discrimination is a very serious social problem that we need to pay attention to," says Rebecca Puhl of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, a co-author of both studies.

The research, based on surveys of more than 2,000 U.S. adults in 1995-96 and 2004-06, is the first to compare rates of weight discrimination with other forms of discrimination, Puhl says.

Institutional discrimination involved health care, education or workplace situations, such as cases in which people said they were fired, denied a job or a promotion because of their weight. Interpersonal discrimination focused on insults, abuse and harassment from others.

Lynn McAfee, director of medical advocacy at the non-profit Council on Size and Weight Discrimination in Mt. Marion, N.Y., is not surprised by the findings.

"Until we clean up language like 'war on obesity' and have authorities speak out about it, discrimination will continue to increase," she says.

Puhl agrees weight discrimination will not decrease until attitudes change and laws begin addressing it.

No federal laws against weight discrimination exist, although some cities, including Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, have banned discrimination locally. The Massachusetts Legislature had hearings last month on a proposed law.

Peggy Howell says she will never forget the day her boss told her she either had to lose weight or lose her job. She weighed 280 pounds at the time and was working as a librarian. Feeling as if she had no choice but to comply, Howell joined Weight Watchers.

Howell volunteers for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, a non-profit organization in Oakland.

After shedding 120 pounds in a year and a half, she quit her library job and started an online business selling items that portray people of size in a positive light.

She says she now knows she has the right to challenge stereotypes, and she wants to "help people to see the beauty in themselves, no matter what their size."

2008-05-21 10:00:09

Must Read?

78 %

22 %

48 VOTES

Recent Comments

Post Your Own

1 - 10 of 1012

1012 comments

cwaged1002 10:01:57 AM May 28 2008

Report This!

Another group to hate, USAmericans favorite pass time.

MADISONN17 02:56:36 PM May 27 2008

Report This!

Get in a gym and lose weight.

Piscearisen 08:33:18 AM May 27 2008

Report This!

"Clean up language like war on obesity". You've GOT to be kidding. Although I don't think it's cool to discriminate or harrass someone who's obese, it doesn't make it okay to be obese in the very same token! It's unhealthy as all getout, and shouldn't be something that is considered "okay" by anyone. This is really getting out of hand here.

Nordic911 02:04:36 AM May 27 2008

Report This!

People that have disorders and is genetic are obese for a reason....I apologize for any type of stereotype that people may place upon you...this next paragraph does not discuss you......
.However.....People that are lazy, don't work out, don't eat healthy, or just plain flat out eat more than they need....then they have placed THAT on themselves. People can make a CHOICE to be fat. Compared to other forms of discrimination....that is just the way people are. Obese, fat people, choose to be in that shape. If they expect to be treated better, then tough luck. I'm sure companies don't want their image to be unhealthy....or have to buy 2 plane tickets because you are too large. I used to be obese, but I overcame my laziness, and constant eating, to become a fit athlete with a healthy lifestyle.

Soulsurv7 11:46:38 PM May 26 2008

Report This!

Well hears to all you ********. I have two masters degrees, hold a Fulbright Scholarship , am regularly in the top 4% of top sales people in my company and have been for the past 20 years! I am over weight...it is medically called "eating disorder". All you arrogrant **** heads need to get over yourselfs...alot of it is GENETIC!!!!! For those of you who "over drink or do drugs...you DO NOT have to drink or take drugs. Everyone has to eat!

To characterize all "fat people" as dumb, stupid and lazy is discriminatory as
well as absolutely idotic! It is NOT easy to be over weight in a society that says if you aren't a size 4 your overweight is ridiculous and shames any woman who is and can NEVER be. Screw you all......

haleyfisher10 09:53:21 PM May 25 2008

Report This!

if someone is fat because of a disorder (i don't know of any off the top of my head but their might be a few) then they can have the slack cut. But if someone chooses to be fat, thats their problem...They can change how ppl treat them and if the really cared...they would. thats all i want to say on that...

Now the race part of this....no....it DOESN'T MATTER what race they are for their weight, their are common stereotypes about weight and races but U can decide for yourself that those are not true. ACTUALLY race doesn't matter for anything except for maybe family history. NOBODY should ever be discriminated against, if you are one race you should be JUST AS POLITE AND FRIENDLY TO EVERYOTHER RACE! and if 1 person from the other race wronged you, THEN DON'T LIKE THEM! BUT LEAVE THE REST OF THEIR RACE OUT OF IT. please.

FunnyClifford123 03:36:56 PM May 24 2008

Report This!

Lose weight and the discrimination will end...

(Most) People can change how much they weigh.
People can NOT change the color of their skin.

Overweight people cost more money for businesses.

gho3437098 04:11:51 PM May 23 2008

Report This!

We'd beat the hell out of those skinny a**h***s, if we could catch them. Actually, the obsessively thin are easily as ugly and unhealthy as the obese. Especially the smokers. How'd this country become so chocked full of judgemental bastards? When did it become ok not to just mind your own business.

papaed20 05:25:57 AM May 23 2008

Report This!

Listen you skinny a****s*s I' m not over weight so don't think this is why i'm responding . Let's take a good look at our selves and I don't mean in the mirro you IDIOTS , I mean at our attitudes toward fellow humans. We as nation are always minding someones business and I find we in general are always looking at someones faults. ( GET A LIFE YOU LOW LIFES ) !!!!!!!!

Wend520 09:53:11 PM May 22 2008

Report This!

There should be a law their so ugly. They should be forced to go for that surgery and have their stomachs stapled or removed. Insures should not have to insure them and cause our rates to go up. I don't want to pay for their diabetes,heart conditions or what ever they get because they are huge pigs. They should be forced to pay for 2 seats on a plane,bus, train. They stink also.

1 - 10 of 1012

1012 comments