Fat shaming: Why is it harmful?
Fat shaming is the criticism, harassment and bullying that overweight people go through concerning their weight and eating habits. It is believed that those who are overweight are ashamed of their weight and the way they eat and that if we point it out to them they will change and become healthier. However, this is far from the truth. Below you can see the harmful effects of fat shaming.
It pushes overweight people to eat more
Biased views cause stress and negatively affect people. In the case of overweight people, this stress can lead them to eat more and gain more weight. This has been proven by many studies.
It can lead to obesity
Many studies have examined the critique of weight and the risk of future weight gain and obesity. In a study of 6,157 people, non-obese participants who experienced fat shaming were 2.5 times more likely to become obese in the following years. In addition, obese people were 3.2 times more likely to remain obese.
It causes many health problems
In addition to weight gain, which is very serious, fat shaming can also cause depression and other mental disorders and eating disorders such as overeating.
It can lead to suicide
As mentioned above, studies have shown that criticism of one’s weight is associated with an increased risk of depression. Depression is one of the leading causes of increased risk of suicide. In a study of 2,436 people, severe obesity was associated with a 21-fold higher risk of suicidal behavior and a 12-fold higher risk of suicide attempt. Giota Florou source: healthline.com Recent Articles
