Abstract
Despite being acknowledged as a complex and multi-faceted condition, the prevailing view within society is that obesity is the result of individual choices and can be reversed simply by “eating less and moving more”. This is oversimplistic and leads to the view that obesity is the individual’s fault and is therefore their responsibility to remedy. These views are grounded in individuals’ beliefs around health and contribute to weight bias and stigma. In the present study, participants (n = 143) completed a cross-sectional survey which explored views around weight and health and whether weight bias or stigma differed based on demographic characteristics, weight status, and prior experience of weight stigma. Results indicate differences in the way individuals living with overweight and obesity are viewed in comparison with those of a healthy weight, with the former viewed in a more negative light. Interestingly, while women presented with higher weight bias scores (p = 0.036), men scored higher for externalised weight stigma (p = 0.001). Weight status was seen as an important factor contributing to overall health. These results demonstrate that weight bias and stigma are prevalent and highlight the need for further measures to reduce stigmatising views of people living with overweight and obesity.
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Divisions: | School of Health |
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Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities5030049 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Publisher: | MDPI AG |
Additional Information: | © 2025 by the authors |
SWORD Depositor: | Symplectic |
Depositing User (symplectic) | Deposited by O'Hara, Beverley |
Date Deposited: | 23 Jun 2025 11:34 |
Last Modified: | 23 Jun 2025 11:34 |
Item Type: | Article |
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Read more research from the author(s):
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JD Beaumont
ORCID: 0000-0002-9861-3379
- T Reimann
- R Wyld
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B O’Hara
ORCID: 0000-0002-4048-9782