Discriminating against fat people does not motivate them to lose weight, instead it can actually drive them to pack on the pounds.
The practice of calling out obese people to help them shed pounds, called "fat shaming," does not motivate people to lose weight, according to a new study. It can have the opposite effect, resulting in more weight gain as people attempt to cope through comfort eating.
According to a new study from the University College London, people who were subjected to "weight discrimination" on a daily basis had more weight gain compared to their counterparts who were not harassed.
"Most people who are overweight are aware of it already and don't need it pointed out to them. Telling them they are fat isn't going to help -- it is just going to make them feel worse," Dr. Sarah Jackson from the University College London told British newspaper The Telegraph.
"There are lots of different causes of obesity, yet a lot of blame just seems to be on individuals and a lack of will power. Raising awareness of some of the factors involved might make it easier not to blame people."
The research, which monitored 2,944 adults across the UK, analyzed data from people over 50 whose weight ranges from normal to obese. The subjects in the study took part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and were asked if they experienced discrimination (in the form of disrespectful treatment and harassment) because of their weight.
About 5 percent of the test subjects reported discrimination. Among the morbidly obese subjects, the rate of discrimination was higher, with one in three saying that they experienced discrimination. The researchers, who monitored subjects during a four-year period, found that all subjects who reported discrimination gained anywhere from around one kilogram to over two kilograms.
What makes matters more problematic is that obese people experienced negative treatment from their own doctors. Experts said that medical professionals often downplayed the many factors that contribute to obesity, and were instead quick to blame overweight people for their eating habits.
The study was funded by Cancer Research UK. The report, published in the journal Obesity, also found that men and women were subjected to the same level of discrimination.
