Stigma perceived by overweight women

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Weight stigma is a prevalent issue affecting individuals' mental and social well-being.
• Overweight women frequently encounter discrimination in various aspects of their lives.
• Understanding these experiences is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and understand the lived experiences of discrimination among overweight women.
• To identify the social contexts and manifestations of perceived discrimination.
• To analyze the emotional and behavioral responses to this discrimination.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted with eleven overweight women.
• Thematic content analysis of transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• Discrimination reported in diverse social contexts including public transport, work, family, and commercial settings.
• Manifestations included disrespect, exclusion, prejudice, and insults.
• Negative feelings such as shame, fear, anger, low self-esteem, and discouragement were prevalent.
• Coping reactions involved social isolation, withdrawal from work, body concealment, and illness.

Conclusions:

• Discrimination significantly impacts overweight women, causing suffering, embarrassment, and negative emotions.
• Experiences of stigma lead to social isolation and a sense of loss.
• Addressing weight-based discrimination is essential for improving the quality of life for overweight women.