Team Discussion Of The Month: Understanding the Harms of Weight Stigma

Whether we are conscious of it or not, there is a certain set of assumptions we may make about a person based on their weight. Those assumptions stem from the pervasive weight stigma in our society. 

What is weight stigma?

Weight stigma is discrimination based on weight and size. This stigma impacts how people with larger bodies are perceived and treated and causes psychological distress, just like other forms of bias and discrimination.

Weight stigma may also be called weight bias, weight-based discrimination, or fatphobia.

Note: We use the word “fat” in this blog as the simple adjective that it is. It is not intended as an insult, but weight stigma has trained us to believe that the word is inherently derogatory. To learn more about why ‘fat’ is a neutral term, check out this essay.

Examples of weight stigma/weight bias

Doctors and everyday people alike often assume people living in larger bodies are ‘unhealthy.’ Weight bias may lead medical professionals to prescribe weight loss while overlooking a patient’s health concerns. When this happens, life-threatening illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. In an effort to appease their doctor, patients may develop more symptoms as a result of their weight loss efforts. Furthermore, many patients in larger bodies report distrust of doctors because of inappropriate or disrespectful treatment and may avoid going to the doctor altogether to get necessary care.

But weight stigma isn’t just present in healthcare. Like any form of bias, there are a number of false assumptions and ideas attached to weight bias:

• The assumption that higher-weight individuals are not active or athletic. 

• The belief that people with larger bodies have fewer options for romantic partners

• The belief that fat bodies are inherently unattractive and undesirable

• False assumptions that fat people have lower intelligence and poor work ethics 

• The belief that higher weight is a result of laziness, lack of self-control, or overeating

• The assumption that higher-weight people have poor hygiene

Such assumptions and beliefs are problematic in society, leading to mental health issues and eating disorders.

In a recent article published by the New York Post, Zhanna Samsonova, a Vegan influencer also known as Zhanna D’Art, allegedly died of starvation by eating an exotic fruit-only diet. Samsonova frequently promoted raw foods as her primary source of caloric intake, and to her millions of viewers on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

The media places harmful pressure on society to reach the “thin ideal”, that is often portrayed in movies by Hollywood stars or runway models. Social media is stealing the spotlight where influencers, like Zhanna Samsonova, take the stage and share their food habits with their large audiences. Vulnerable minds believe that these diets are actually safe. Yet in reality, these diets are anything but safe, and it’s devastating to witness the tragedy of Zhanna Samsonova. Weight stigma is real, and it is something we must be made aware of. It’s important to challenge weight stigma and promote body positivity, acceptance, and inclusivity, in hopes of combatting the dangerous media messaging and social media diet influencers. By doing so, we can save lives.

Weight stigma and eating disorders

When it comes to eating disorders, people in larger bodies are often left out of the conversation. If they are included, their illnesses aren’t always taken seriously, and they are often blamed or even ridiculed. 

It’s important to remember that eating disorders are not about weight. The psychological and physical toll of an eating disorder is damaging regardless of any changes in weight. Even if a person with an eating disorder does not become underweight, they can still suffer the effects of malnutrition. 

Here are some examples of false beliefs about weight and eating disorders:

• All fat people have binge eating disorder 

• Fat people cannot have anorexia nervosa

• Eating disorders are less severe if the person has a larger body

• All fat people hate their bodies/have body image issues

• Restrictive eating disorders are ‘helpful’ for fat individuals

Effects of weight stigma

Weight bias leads us to believe that higher-weight individuals experience negative consequences because of their size. But in reality, many of the issues fat people may face are a direct result of weight stigma itself, not their weight. Weight stigma is damaging to mental and physical health and can lead to a poorer quality of life. The effects of weight stigma include:

• Low self-esteem and negative body image

• Depression and anxiety

• Poor quality of personal relationships

• Harmful weight control practices (e.g., eating disorders)

• Exercise avoidance 

Medical Weight Stigma and Eating Disorders

Weight stigma in the medical field can be harmful to patients who are susceptible to disordered eating. When a trusted medical provider prescribes weight loss, patients often take the advice to heart. However, there is often little guidance offered as to how patients should go about losing weight. Patients then seek to lose weight by any means necessary, which can involve restrictive dieting, weight loss supplements, and other dangerous methods. 

On the other hand, weight shaming from a doctor can also lead to binge eating.  

Size-inclusive care

More and more clinicians are becoming aware of the harms of weight stigma and are actively working to take the bias in the healthcare system into account. 

Health at Every Size (HAES)-informed professionals take a holistic approach to caring for fat patients. Instead of seeing weight as a problem to be solved, they understand that weight does not determine a person’s health.

At Kindful Body, all of our therapists and dietitians are HAES-informed and provide size-inclusive eating disorder care. 

Join Our Community and Find Help From A Therapeutic Dietitian in California

We are here to support you on your journey towards healing and recovery. Join our community by signing up for our monthly newsletter to receive insightful content, personal stories, clinician tips, and other useful resources. Our team of caring therapists would be happy to offer support across the state. You can start your therapy journey with Kindful Body by following these steps:

• Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our client care coordinator or call (415) 323- 6755. 

• Connect with a caring therapist.

• Start overcoming weight stigma and improve the relationship with your body

Other Services Offered with Kindful Body

Kindful Body is happy to support mental health concerns in addition to eating disorder therapy. Other services offered include low self-esteem issues, emotional eating recovery, nutrition counseling, binge eating disorder, and body image. Our team is here to help you with your eating disorder recovery whether you need eating disorder treatment in Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland/Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Mateo, Orange County, CA, or anywhere in California. Learn more about us by checking out ourblog andFAQs page!