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Obesity stigma : causes, consequences, and potential solutions
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Westbury, S., Oyebode, Oyinlola, Van Rens, Thijs and Barber, Thomas M. (2023) Obesity stigma : causes, consequences, and potential solutions. Current Obesity Reports, 12 (1). pp. 10-23. doi:10.1007/s13679-023-00495-3 ISSN 2162-4968.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-023-00495-3
Abstract
Purpose of Review
This review aims to examine (i) the aetiology of obesity; (ii) how and why a perception of personal responsibility for obesity so dominantly frames this condition and how this mindset leads to stigma; (iii) the consequences of obesity stigma for people living with obesity, and for the public support for interventions to prevent and manage this condition; and (iv) potential strategies to diminish our focus on personal responsibility for the development of obesity, to enable a reduction of obesity stigma, and to move towards effective interventions to prevent and manage obesity within the population.
Recent Findings
We summarise literature which shows that obesity stems from a complex interplay of genetic and environment factors most of which are outside an individual’s control. Despite this, evidence of obesity stigmatisation remains abundant throughout areas of media, entertainment, social media and the internet, advertising, news outlets, and the political and public health landscape. This has damaging consequences including psychological, physical, and socioeconomic harm.
Summary
Obesity stigma does not prevent obesity. A combined, concerted, and sustained effort from multiple stakeholders and key decision-makers within society is required to dispel myths around personal responsibility for body weight, and to foster more empathy for people living in larger bodies. This also sets the scene for more effective policies and interventions, targeting the social and environmental drivers of health, to ultimately improve population health.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Translational & Experimental Medicine > Metabolic and Vascular Health (- until July 2016) Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Translational & Experimental Medicine |
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| Journal or Publication Title: | Current Obesity Reports | ||||||||
| Publisher: | Springer | ||||||||
| ISSN: | 2162-4968 | ||||||||
| Official Date: | March 2023 | ||||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 12 | ||||||||
| Number: | 1 | ||||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 10-23 | ||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1007/s13679-023-00495-3 | ||||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||||||
| Date of first compliant deposit: | 15 February 2023 | ||||||||
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 15 February 2023 | ||||||||
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