The Physical and Mental Repercussions of Weight Stigma

Abstract

Weight stigma, or sizeism, is prejudice and discrimination against an individual based on their weight. Sizeism must be addressed due to its extreme severity and misconceptions. Body dysmorphic disorder, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental disorders stem from weight stigma. Two extensive studies uncovered the prominence of body shaming. First, an experiment called “The Impact of Weight Stigma on Caloric Consumption” by Natasha Schvey et al. involved 73 women of varying weights who were randomly assigned to either a control group (exposed to regular advertisements) or an experimental group (exposed to fat-shaming content). Both groups were given access to snack bowls and participants were provided with questionnaires. The women in the overweight/stigma group consumed three times more calories than the normal weight/neutral group. Additionally, women in the overweight/neutral group consumed the least amount of calories among all groups. The second experiment, labeled “Unpacking the psychological weight of weight stigma: A rejection-expectation pathway” by Blodorn et al., required 84 females and 78 males to give a speech while either audio or video recording. There was a positive correlation between BMI and rejection expectations among women in the experimental group. Incorporating such findings into legislation in the workforce, measures in schools, and social movements will promote society’s betterment. Psychologists may also be able to use this information to understand how sizeism translates to defense mechanisms, mental disorders, and self-efficacy, and how it has become prevalent due to the just-world phenomenon.