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Obesity Bias in the School Setting: A Brief Report
José I Baile1, María J González-Calderón1, María F Rabito-Alcón1
1Department of Psychology, Open University of Madrid (UDIMA), 28400 Madrid, Spain.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2022
Summary
Children show significant obesity bias, rejecting overweight peers for activities. This bias was most pronounced in girls, highlighting the need for supportive school environments to combat weight stigma.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Child Development
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Obesity bias is a significant psychosocial issue for individuals with overweight and obesity.
- Childhood obesity bias is an emerging area of research due to its profound impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and nature of obesity bias among primary school children.
- To compare rejection rates based on obesity versus other characteristics like gender, nationality, and ethnicity.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 171 primary school students (mean age 10.68) in Madrid, Spain.
- Participants indicated their willingness to engage in academic, social, and leisure activities with a classmate with obesity.
- Rejection ratios were analyzed and compared across different personal characteristics.
Main Results:
- Over half of the children surveyed would not choose a peer with obesity for any of the suggested activities.
- Obesity emerged as the characteristic eliciting the highest rejection rate, particularly among female students.
- This suggests a strong bias against children with obesity in the school setting.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity bias is prevalent in school environments, impacting social interactions.
- Schools should serve as protective spaces, actively working to mitigate weight stigma and promote inclusivity.
- Further research is needed to understand and address the roots of this bias in children.
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