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Cited by 563Obesity and Health PracticesObesity, Physical Activity, DietEating Disorders and Behaviors

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Weight discrimination and bullying

Puhl, Rebecca M., King, Kelly M.·2013·Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
DOI 10.1016/j.beem.2012.12.002
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Abstract

Despite significant attention to the medical impacts of obesity, often ignored are the negative outcomes that obese children and adults experience as a result of stigma, bias, and discrimination. Obese individuals are frequently stigmatized because of their weight in many domains of daily life. Research spanning several decades has documented consistent weight bias and stigmatization in employment, health care, schools, the media, and interpersonal relationships. For overweight and obese youth, weight stigmatization translates into pervasive victimization, teasing, and bullying. Multiple adverse outcomes are associated with exposure to weight stigmatization, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, suicidal ideation, poor academic performance, lower physical activity, maladaptive eating behaviors, and avoidance of health care. This review summarizes the nature and extent of weight stigmatization against overweight and obese individuals, as well as the resulting consequences that these experiences create for social, psychological, and physical health for children and adults who are targeted.

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  • Adolescents with overweight or obesity are significantly more likely to experience social isolation and are at increased risk for relational, verbal, cyber, and physical victimization compared with students of lower body weight.

    “Compared with students of lower body weight, adolescents with overweight or obesity are significantly more likely to experience social isolation19–21 and are at increased risk for relational, verbal, cyber, and physical victimization22.”

    From Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity (2020) · cites this paper as [21]

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Metadata

Authors
Puhl, R. M., & King, K. M.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Puhl, Rebecca M.
ORCID
Venue
Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-04
Volume
27
Issue
2
Pages
117-127
ISSN
1521-690X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.beem.2012.12.002
OpenAlex
W2005831015
Cited by
563
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 88 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 3
FWCI
3.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity and Health Practices
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords
weight discrimination, weight stigma, bullying, obesity, overweight, children, adolescents, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, suicidal ideation, academic performance, physical activity, dietary habits, healthcare avoidance, employment discrimination, health care discrimination
MeSH terms
Adult, Body Weight, Child, Humans, Obesity, Stereotyping, Crime Victims, Overweight, Bullying, Social Discrimination

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