Sandhya Raghavan
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Written By: Sandhya Raghavan | Updated : October 29, 2017 1:43 AM IST
We live in a celeb-worshipping, looks-obsessed society that burdens us with its unrealistic expectations of beauty. The fit and slim ones among us are adulated; but the ones who don't fit the current ideals of fitness and beauty are harassed. This systematic harassment has lead to the coinage of the term 'fat shaming.' In some places, fat shaming is done in a brazen banner where overweight individuals are made the butt of everybody's jokes. They are openly criticised for their food choices, perceived to have low self control and automatically branded as lazy. Even if the weight gain is due to underlying health conditions, people rarely cut overweight people any slack.
Those who shame fat people think that they are doing them a service and that constantly criticising overweight people would make them want to lose weight. Fat shamers also delude themselves into thinking that their bullying comes from a good place, out of concerns for the health and wellness of overweight people. If you are someone who wants to work towards weight loss, here's a valuable, science-backed tip: Stay away from those you fat shame you!
(Read: Body-shaming How to handle bullies and haters who criticise you)
A 2014 study published in the Obesity (Silver Spring) Journal examined the correlation between being fat shamed and changes in weight, waist circumference and weight status. The study spoke about how negative attitude towards obese individuals is the "last socially acceptable forms of prejudice." It aimed to dispel the common misconception that calling out a person on their weight and criticising them for their lifestyle will actually make them work towards weight loss.
(Read: Did you know India ranks 3rd in body shaming?)
Around 2944 men and women under the age of fifty participated in the study. The study concluded that when people are constantly belittled for their weight, they are more likely to indulge in activities that promote weight gain. Weight stigma can make overweight people indulge in problematic eating, refuse weight-loss diet and avoid exercise and physical activity.
When overweight people are bullied for their weight gain, they get stressed. And to cope with this stress, they resort to eating high-calorie, comfort foods. Stress also causes high cortisol levels in the body, which is associated with weight gain. The study also said that people who are bullied for their weight may think they are bad at sports and physical activities, which would make them avoid it completely.
So if you have friends or acquaintances who constantly comment on your weight, it is best to avoid them. Try, instead, to spend time with people who are kind-hearted and supportive of your fitness goals.
Read previous weight loss tip.
Reference:
Jackson, S. E., Beeken, R. J., & Wardle, J. (2014). Perceived weight discrimination and changes in weight, waist circumference, and weight status. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 22(12), 2485 2488. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20891
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