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Cited by 676Obesity and Health PracticesObesity, Physical Activity, DietEating Disorders and Behaviors

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Stigma Experienced by Children and Adolescents With Obesity

Pont, Stephen J., Puhl, Rebecca, Cook, Stephen R., Slusser, Wendelin, SECTION ON OBESITY, THE OBESITY SOCIETY·2017·Pediatrics
DOI 10.1542/peds.2017-3034
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Abstract

The stigmatization of people with obesity is widespread and causes harm. Weight stigma is often propagated and tolerated in society because of beliefs that stigma and shame will motivate people to lose weight. However, rather than motivating positive change, this stigma contributes to behaviors such as binge eating, social isolation, avoidance of health care services, decreased physical activity, and increased weight gain, which worsen obesity and create additional barriers to healthy behavior change. Furthermore, experiences of weight stigma also dramatically impair quality of life, especially for youth. Health care professionals continue to seek effective strategies and resources to address the obesity epidemic; however, they also frequently exhibit weight bias and stigmatizing behaviors. This policy statement seeks to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative effects of weight stigma on pediatric patients and their families and provides 6 clinical practice and 4 advocacy recommendations regarding the role of pediatricians in addressing weight stigma. In summary, these recommendations include improving the clinical setting by modeling best practices for nonbiased behaviors and language; using empathetic and empowering counseling techniques, such as motivational interviewing, and addressing weight stigma and bullying in the clinic visit; advocating for inclusion of training and education about weight stigma in medical schools, residency programs, and continuing medical education programs; and empowering families to be advocates to address weight stigma in the home environment and school setting.

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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 [19]

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Metadata

Authors
Pont, S. J., Puhl, R., Cook, S. R., Slusser, W., OBESITY, S. O., & THE OBESITY SOCIETY
Affiliations
  • Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas (US)
  • University of Connecticut (US)
  • University of Rochester Medicine (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
ORCID
Venue
Pediatrics
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Published
2017-12-01
Volume
140
Issue
6
ISSN
  • 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-4275
DOI
10.1542/peds.2017-3034
OpenAlex
W2770723733
Cited by
676
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 85 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 81 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 93 · 2020: 81 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 2
FWCI
5.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • PEDIATRICS (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 stigma, childhood obesity, adolescent obesity, weight bias, pediatricians, motivational interviewing, bullying, family advocacy, quality of life, binge eating, social isolation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Body Weight, Child, Humans, Obesity, Global Health, Incidence, Social Stigma

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