Obesity, Stigmatization, Prejudice and Bias
In this century, it is less likely than in the past that people will hear a shockingly sexist remark in the workplace, a blatantly racist comment on TV, or a pointedly anti-Semitic statement anywhere in a public forum. This is a wonderful statement on the progress that has been made since the dark days of the turn of the last century when such comments were commonplace and acceptable. In fact, between political correctness, dawning rationality, and a litigious society, there seem to be few prejudices left that are considered socially acceptable to act upon.
Of those remaining biases, fat bias is perhaps the most prominently featured in media, work, and social life in the U.S. The size, shape, romantic prospects, and eating habits of obese people are the focus of many a comedy sketch and movie plot (Shallow Hall, Date Movie, Norbit), and they are a source of insult and torment on the playground and in the boardroom. This phenomenon has been so widespread that prejudice against obese people has been called “the last socially acceptable form of prejudice” by some scholars.
Weight Stigma may come in several forms, including verbal types of bias (such as ridicule, teasing, insults, stereotypes, derogatory names, or offensive language), physical stigma (such as touching, grabbing, or other aggressive behaviors), or other barriers and obstacles due to weight (such as medical equipment that is too small for obese patients, chairs or seats in public venues which do not accommodate obese persons, or stores which do not carry clothing in large sizes). In an extreme form, stigma can result in both subtle and overt forms of discrimination, such as employment discrimination where an obese employee is denied a position or promotion due to his or her appearance, despite being appropriately qualified.
In a society obsessed with unrealistic ideals of how we should look, overweight job applicants have an especially tough time breaking into the job market.
(one of)My stories of prejudice in the workplace, which may sound familiar to many obese individuals…
I applied online for a job. The company replies positively to my application by asking for a more detailed resume. Then, I receives an enthusiastic phone call, telling me “you are perfect for the position” and would I come in for an interview. It’s clear from the tone of the call and various other hints dropped by the caller that the interview is really just a formality, that I am clearly the best qualified candidate.
But all this changes come the day of the interview. The members of the interview panel refuse to meet my eye or give me disgusted looks when they think I am not looking. The questions they ask are brief. They shuffle and fidget when I speaks, act bored and uninterested in my responses. It’s obvious they’re simply going through the motions. When I leave only half the panel make an attempt to shake my hand and thank me with enthusiasm bordering on relief. A week later I do a follow up call and am “regretfully” informing that I was not suitable for the position. I was not surprised. I’ve gone through this charade a couple dozen times before. 
Prejudices about obese people represent a very widespread kind of cultural racism based on a range of wrong stereotyped beliefs that are deeply rooted in Western cultures. Professors, business people, nurses and doctors allow these beliefs to affect there judgment even though they are highly educated and should know better.
Experimental studies have found that when a resume is accompanied by a picture or video of an overweight person (compared to an “average” weight person), the overweight applicant is rated more negatively and is less likely to be hired. Other research shows that overweight employees are ascribed multiple negative stereotypes including being lazy, sloppy, less competent, lacking in self-discipline, disagreeable, less conscientious, and poor role models. In addition, overweight employees may suffer wage penalties, as they tend to be paid less for the same jobs, are more likely to have lower paying jobs, and are less likely to get promoted than thin people with the same qualifications.
In school settings, students who are overweight or obese can face harassment and ridicule from peers, as well as negative attitudes from teachers and other educators. At the college level, some research shows that qualified overweight students, particularly females, are less likely to be accepted to college than their normal weight peers.
In medical facilities, biased attitudes toward obese patients have been documented among physicians, nurses, psychologists, dieticians, and medical students, and include perceptions that obese patients are unintelligent, unsuccessful, weak-willed, unpleasant, overindulgent, and lazy. One alarming consequence of negative attitudes by health care professionals is that obese patients may avoid obtaining medical care because of these negative experiences. Research has demonstrated that heavier patients are more likely to cancel and delay appointments and preventive health care services, particularly among women who are overweight or obese. A lot of obese people are too fat also for medical science: to be effectively contained by an operating bed, to stay on a common hospital wheelchair without being jammed inside, to enter a tunnel of an appliance for tomography CAT and NMR.
Such discrimination within the medical community is particularly damaging due to the health effects of obesity and a subsequent increased need for medical attention. The well-known increased incidence of chronic progressive diseases such as diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, and cardiovascular disease in obese people makes delays and avoidance of care dangerous. Obesity-related conditions result in 300,000 deaths per year in the U.S. according to the American Heart Association, many of which could be prevented with weight loss and proper medical management. The inadequate treatment of these diseases also adds a significant burden on the health care system. The social and fiscal costs of obesity on society—and on the individual—are enormous, and these costs are compounded by negative attitudes toward obese people among health care workers.
Scientific research has shown the falseness of these prejudices. But they are beliefs that are so ingrained in our society that even if (when) obesity reaches a global epidemic level the world will continue to do its best to make obese people’s life difficult.
Evolution seems to have ‘selected’ people that had chosen fat and energetic food; in our origin it was useful for the survival of people capable of storing calories to face famine situations. Because of our ancestors need to survive starvation we now carry these genes that promote fat/energy storage.
With the technologic automated age, developed countries have 24/7 access to an over abundance of food, have decreased daily energy output and exercise has become for many people that live in Western countries optional or a luxury. Nowadays one American out of two is considered overweight (in 1950 it was one out of four).
Prejudice is not a useful too to tackle this problem and miraculous pills produced in recent years by pharmaceutical companies do not seem to be giving lasting benefits of even short term benefits comparable to their side effects. Therefore research devoted to studying genes that control lipid metabolism and fat mass are more beneficial.
In the meantime the only thing that seems to work is getting used to balanced nutrition and a regular routine of physical activity [according to the American National Institute of Health 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day should be enough.]
Which is easier said than done, you must change your whole lifestyle, resist temptations and defy (unintentional) sabotage by family, friends or loved ones who don’t support your healthier life style. It’s also difficult for people with emotional eating/ food addictions. For these individuals it’s not just a matter of a “diet” but they need a whole program to deal with their underlying emotional issues and be taught healthy coping methods to stop their self medicating with food. It is a constant and continuous task but one with great reward, a healthy body and long life.
Sources:
http://www.obesity.org/
http://www.anoressia-bulimia.it/html/obesity_prejudice.htm
http://focus.hms.harvard.edu/2002/Sep27_2002/
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Great article Angie. To the point and poignant!