Abstract This paper looks at how bias against overweight and obese individuals is perhaps the last form of acceptable discrimination. It shows how overweight people are subject to both subtle and blatant forms of discrimination, from childhood to adulthood and how discrimination occurs in family, social and professional situations as well. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to the issue of obesity and discrimination, drawing on diverse literature from fields including psychology, law, pediatrics and economics. The extent of discrimination is explored through a critical survey and integration of current research on the social and professional effects of obesity.
Outline
Introduction
Definition of Terms
Statistics on the Overweight and Obese
Effects of Weight-based Discrimination
Reasons Behind the Discrimination
Advocacy for the Overweight and Obese
Conclusion
From the Paper "Roehling (1999) believes that most weight-based discrimination stems from the fact that we "tend to blame overweight people for their condition." Discrimination based on weight is seen as more acceptable because, unlike race or gender, people see bodyweight as a choice, not an immutable characteristic (Roehling 2002). This argument stems from the misconception that obesity is a voluntary condition, that overweight people could lose weight simply if they stopped eating and shored up their willpower (Solovay 2000). However, research has since shown that this is not true, and that obesity is caused by a variety of genetic, psychological, physiological and even environmental factors. These could include a deficiency in leptin hormones and the "thrifty gene." In fact, trying to lose weight is often accompanied by significant health risks (Roehling 2002)."
