Experts say that being criticised for their weight drives those who are already sensitive about it to comfort eat. Fear of ridicule may also mean they avoid exercise.Researchers from University College London said public health campaigns should also avoid making people feel bad about their weight.
Lead author Sarah Jackson advises medics to avoid using the word ‘fat’ where possible and replace it with the terms overweight or obese.
The study, published in the journal Obesity, found that those who were victims of ‘fat shaming’ put on just over 2lb on average over the course of the study. They were also six times as likely to become obese.
In contrast, those who were not criticised for their weight actually became slimmer, albeit by a small amount. Dr Jackson said
: ‘Our results show that weight discrimination does not encourage weight loss and suggest that it may even exacerbate weight gain.‘Previous studies have shown that people who experience discrimination report comfort eating.Stress responses to discrimination can increase appetite, particularly for unhealthy, energy-dense food. Weight discrimination has also been shown to make people feel less confident about taking part in physical activity, so they tend to avoid it.People may not feel comfortable going to the gym if they think they are being judged because of their weight.’
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