The Obese Feel More Discrimination

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Alice Park

As obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., so might our acceptance of those who are overweight. But a new study from Yale University suggests the converse trend: rather than feeling tolerance in our society, the overweight and obese say they feel more heavily discriminated against now than they did a decade ago.

Led by Tatiana Andreyeva, a postdoctoral research associate at Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, a team of researchers questioned 1,100 subjects, aged 35 to 74, twice over a 10-year span (once between 1995 and 1996, and again between 2004 and 2006). The respondents answered 11 questions about whether they had been discriminated against in the context of common life experiences — including applying to college or for a scholarship, renting or buying a home in a neighborhood they desired, applying for a bank loan or dealing with police. Participants answered nine additional questions about everyday experiences, such as how they were treated in restaurants, and whether they had encountered name-calling, harassment or threats. The subjects were asked to indicate the reasons they felt they had been discriminated against (facing police harassment, for example, or being denied bank loans), whether it was because of age, gender, race, height or weight, physical disability, sexual orientation or religion. Between the two survey periods, the rate of discrimination due to height or weight increased from 7% of respondents to 12% of respondents. (The scientists determined separately that the people who reported discrimination due to height or weight were also more likely than other participants to be overweight or obese.)

The study is one of the first to track patterns of discrimination based on weight. It's worth noting, however, that the survey relied on people's own perception of discrimination — the authors did not require the subjects to document bias in any way. In addition, the authors found that rates of discrimination by age and gender also increased in the same time period, suggesting that several forms of bias — or perhaps sensitivity to perceived bias — is on the rise overall, not just against the overweight. Nevertheless, the study did track the same population over time, and Andreyeva says that an increase even in people's perceived sense of maltreatment is an important measure of our society's attitudes. In this report, weight ranked third behind age and race as the most common form of prejudice. "If a person perceives he is being discriminated against," Andreyeva says, "it might have significant consequences for his or her health and mental health. Even the perception of discrimination can be important because it is self-perpetuating." And if rates of weight discrimination are indeed on the rise, say the authors, then it's up to society to mandate legal protections for those who are overweight, just as laws protect people from discrimination by race, gender, disability and age.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,...1730150,00.html

[sj5 4]

LOL @ discrimination. Having healthy weight is good.

[Amby 490]

LOL @ discrimination. Having healthy weight is good.

#######?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

LOL @ discrimination. Having healthy weight is good.

Healthy. 500 pounds is not healthy. ever.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

except in canada, they get two seats there on the plane.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

except in canada, they get two seats there on the plane.

stfu smoker!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yes, it's true. We're discriminated against. But so what? I just choose my friends wisely. There's a certain 'type' people like me shouldn't hang out with and I don't

ETA: As for discrimination at work etc., not much I can do about it except lose weight or die trying.

Edited November 25, 2008 by A.J.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Yes, it's true. We're discriminated against. But so what? I just choose my friends wisely. There's a certain 'type' people like me shouldn't hang out with and I don't

ETA: As for discrimination at work etc., not much I can do about it except lose weight or die trying.

I luvz AJ cuz there's LOTS of him

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yes, it's true. We're discriminated against. But so what? I just choose my friends wisely. There's a certain 'type' people like me shouldn't hang out with and I don't

ETA: As for discrimination at work etc., not much I can do about it except lose weight or die trying.

I luvz AJ cuz there's LOTS of him

[Amby 490]

AJ is realistic...I like that & him

[HAL 9000 96]

So many crybabies... what about those people that have to put up with snakes on planes? Huh! What have you got to say about that??

Outta here.

[Amby 490]

I've lost a massive amount of weight so don't say I don't know...no matter how much you hate it or want it to change you will NEVER EVER EVER lose the weight until you actually REALLY REALLY REALLY want to do it. It will become an obsession/addiction. You have to commit to is 100% or it won't happen. Until you're ready to do that you will never be successful. You have to change your entire life.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yes, it's true. We're discriminated against. But so what? I just choose my friends wisely. There's a certain 'type' people like me shouldn't hang out with and I don't

AJ - how big are we talking about?

[mawilson 2,133]

Yes, it's true. We're discriminated against. But so what? I just choose my friends wisely. There's a certain 'type' people like me shouldn't hang out with and I don't

AJ - how big are we talking about?

Damn! How does he do it?

[Sprailenes 47]

At work my coworkers will refer to someone as "Fat cow" instead of using their name.

Everyone else has a name but the obese girl. We'll just call her: Fat Cow.