Bel Marra Health supports a recent study that outlines how overweight women are still discriminated against.

The study was conducted by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, The University of Manchester, and Monash University and it was published in the May 29th edition of the journal Obesity. The researchers of the study asked men and women to read descriptions of women who had either maintained a stable weight or had obtained 70 pounds of weight loss, and who were either presently obese or presently thin. After reading the vignettes, the participants were asked questions about the women’s perceived attractiveness as well as other perceived attributes and they were also questioned on their overall dislike for fat people.

"We were surprised to find that currently thin women were viewed differently depending on their weight history," said study leader Janet Latner, in a news release from the University of Manchester, England. "Those who had been obese in the past were perceived as less attractive than those who had always been thin, despite having identical height and weight."

Another disturbing finding of the study was that the participants demonstrated an even greater prejudice towards obese people after they were falsely told that weight loss is easily attainable. “Descriptions of weight loss, such as those often promoted on television, may significantly worsen obesity stigma. Believing that obese people can easily lose weight may make individuals blame and dislike obese people more,” said Dr.Latner.

Women have a higher risk of obesity than men do, which is likely due to the fact that they have a naturally lower muscle mass and metabolic rate, which makes weight loss harder to obtain. Despite this fact, the pressure to lose weight is greater for obese woman than it is for men; they are subjected to more social stigma, and they are deprived of intimate relationships, friendships, social interactions, education, income and respect.

CEO of Bel Marra Health Jim Chiang sees how this can be problematic, “Unfortunately, there appears to be no way for obese women to transcend the anti-fat prejudice because a new study has found that society continues to discriminate against formerly obese women even after they achieve substantial weight loss.”

(SOURCE: “National Institutes of Health” Once-Obese Women Still Face Stigma, Study Finds, May 30, 2012)

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