can have lasting impact
Overweight children who are stigmatized by peers and their parents and teachers sustain profound and potentially lasting harm, according to a paper by scientists from Yale and the University of Hawaii at Manatoa.
"Weight-based discrimination is as important a problem as racial discrimination or discrimination against children with physical disabilities," the authors wrote in the July issue of Psychological Bulletin. "Remedying it needs to be taken equally seriously if we are to protect the emotional and physical well-being of our nation's children."
The study analyzes published research gathered from psychological, medical, social science and educational databases. Over 100 studies were included that offered evidence on the associations between obesity, stigma (e.g., teasing, victimization and prejudice toward obese youth) and a variety of negative consequences that included social exclusion, low self-esteem, reduced academic and earning potential, avoidance of physical activity, eating disorders and even suicide.
Among some of the more striking findings highlighted were:
* Adolescents teased about their weight are two to three times more likely to report suicidal ideation than their peers.
* Children as young as preschool age ascribe negative characteristics to overweight peers and reject them as potential playmates.
* Overweight adolescents report that parents are a frequent source of weight-based teasing.
* Youth who reported weight-based victimization are at risk for unhealthy weight control, binge-eating behaviors and avoidance of physical activity.
* Adolescents who reported being treated unfairly because of their weight had higher blood pressure than their peers --- even after controlling for weight, activity level and other factors.
While science provides extensive documentation of the extent of stigmatization, long-term health consequences of weight bias require further study, as does identifying methods to effectively reduce stigma toward youth, the authors say.
"The childhood obesity epidemic is rapidly accelerating," says lead author Rebecca Puhl of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale. "That means thousands of children in North America are at risk for serious emotional and physical health consequences that science shows are connected to weight stigma. We cannot overestimate the urgency of combating stigma."
-- By Jacqueline Weaver
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Gift of $10 million to support work of China Law Center
Studies cast new light on problems, treatment of childhood obesity
Bias against overweight youths can have lasting impact
Weight management program shown to cut diabetes risk
Students' summer projects designed to serve city's needs
Tennis center being transformed into state-of-the-art facility
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEWS
Yale scientists part of 'dream team' investigating hypertension
New genome technology can identify patients with . . .
Study: Virus has 'bystander' effect
Phyical conditioning shown to improve older drivers' on-road skills
Conference speakers examined the 'ethical dance' . . .
Paul Genecin reappointed as director of YUHS
Postdoc honored with fellowship for research on drug delivery
Architecture School to begin new year in temporary home with talk, exhibit
Exhibit showcases diverse incarnations of Kipling's books
Manuscripts provide window into pre-20th-century Islamic life, learning
Alumni earn Yale Medals for service to their alma mater
Newly renovated Cross Campus Library to open in the fall
Exhibit highlights career of artist who 'probed the nation's ills'
Pilot Pen tournament to bring top-ranked players to Elm City
Ira Millstein is again named 'Corporate Lawyer of the Year'
MacMillan Center awards book prize to French professor Maurice Samuel
In Memoriam: Peter H. Marris
Memorial service for Helen Simpson Culler
Documentary on the creation of Peabody Museum's Torosaurus . . .
Yale Books in Brief
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home