“Gyms are only for the thin, and the obese have to stay at home and eat the chips, because trying to go to a gym, or running outdoors, is worrying,” says Sophie Hagen, Danish comedian and activist against The spread of “obesity phobia” in advertising campaigns and on social media, in her book entitled “The Happy Fat Woman.”
Hagen states in her book that "a survey of fat discrimination found that 89% of obese people would rather be blind than obese."
So, says author and blogger, Kelly Rich, "If you're fat for any reason, or no reason at all, you're likely to experience bias or pity or both."
obesity phobia
Obesity phobia, or "fatphobia", means "a fear of fat bodies and prejudice against people who are overweight," says Dr. Marie Himmelstein, who studies the impact of weight stigma on health.
It often occurs under the pretext of concern for the obese person and the desire to help him, by advising him to exercise or lose weight.
A study found that "society's bias against obesity increased by 40% between 2004 and 2010".
It's the stigma of being overweight, one that a 2016 analysis of data on 21,000 Americans found "a significant association with higher heart disease, stomach ulcers, diabetes, and higher cholesterol."
Other studies have also shown that permanently experiencing the stigma of being overweight “raises cortisol levels and other physiological effects that are associated with negative health outcomes.”
Research has shown that this kind of help does not work, and that the idea that “criticizing someone’s body will help motivate them to change” is a misconception;
In fact, the phobia of obesity “causes the obese person more anxiety and depression, and low self-confidence; reduces his enthusiasm for exercise, and pushes him to overeat.”
Therefore, Heimmelstein explained that the physical effects of obesity phobia are serious. Underestimating a person’s value because of their body weight “is a greater concern for health, as the problem is no longer related to body fat, as much as it is related to the stress caused by this type of phobia, which leads to increased disease and death.” .
Individuals who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of heart disease (Al Jazeera)
Focus on specific studies
Late last year, a study of more than half a million people was published in Spain, which indicated that “individuals who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of heart disease, regardless of their regular exercise,” stressing that “losing weight, In and of itself, it should remain a primary goal, to reduce this risk in obese people."
Research being ignored
But the surprise - says Virginia Sol Smith, author of the book "The Idea of Eating", on the Scientific American website - that the results indicated, which are widely publicized, "contradict the results of many other research studies."
According to a study published in 2017, and included more than 5,000 Dutch people, over a period of 15 years, it was found that “overweight people who engage in high levels of physical activity, did not have an increased risk of heart disease, compared to those who engaged in the same physical activity with high levels of physical activity. normal weight";
This is what was proven by an analysis published in 2020, of the data of about 22,000 Americans.
But this research is usually ignored, in favor of the diet industry, which may fund scientific research on weight and health, according to a report that noted that "industry sponsorship affects research goals."
Perhaps this explains the insufficient shedding of light on what the Spanish researchers themselves discovered that “physical activity reduces an individual’s susceptibility to heart disease, compared to less active people in the same weight category.” This means that “you can be obese and fit at the same time.” ', according to Smith.
Overweight people who exercised high levels of physical activity did not have an increased risk of heart disease (German)
Steps to stop obesity phobia
Writer Fergie Tovar tells us that it is possible to stand up to the fear of obesity with simple steps, including:
Avoid talking about food and weight. Daily conversations about food, weight, etc. are one of the first things we should stop talking about constantly, because you simply “don’t know who is doing them harm”.
Do not comment on people's bodies negatively or positively, even if it is courtesy or humor, as this may cause pain for people with large bodies.
Keep health advice to yourself, as it may do more harm than good, "It does not mean that you know the size of a person's body, that you know his health condition, or that as long as he is obese, he must suffer from diseases."
Speak up and stop the harm, by saying, "These comments are not helpful, and there is no need to talk about weight again."
Correct your idea of obese people. Obesity is not a defect or deviation from the normal state, "there have been obese people, and there will always be obese people."