Award-winning Chilean study shows what happens when you discriminate against an obese person

Obesity is an issue that has moved up the global public health agenda in recent decades, due to the significant increase it is experiencing in all age groups.

Although the physiological approach has predominated in its diagnosis and treatment so far in Chile, since the Frontier University a team of PhD researchers in Psychology is a pioneer in producing evidence from a psychological and behavioral approach.

The investigation, confirmed that discrimination and prejudice associated with overweight it predisposes those who are subjected to it to adopt less healthy behaviors.

The studio, which will receive the award IJBM Regional Award for Excellence in Publication in Behavioral Medicine for South Americais the result of the doctoral thesis of Daniela Gomez, researcher Department of Psychology and director Stigma, Discrimination, Health and Food Laboratory (LEDSA) of the UFRO.

The main objective was collect evidence regarding the stigma phenomenon associated with body weight in Chile, that if stigmatization was already studied in several countries and was positioned as a variable to be taken into account in the approach to obesity, but “His studies in Chile were practically non-existent” Gomez explains.

“Talking about someone’s body or making comments about someone’s weight It is a cultural characteristic of our country. raises the researcher, and “for what -in my opinion- having evidence that explains the consequences of these comments is crucial.

The quantitative study was carried out in the region of La Araucanía with a sample of almost 400 men and women and various valid and reliable instruments were applied to measure variables of interest for research, including weight stigma, chronic stress, unhealthy diet and BMI.

When performing the analysis, it was shown that weight stigma situations are associated with:

• chronic stress, that is, there are consequences at the psychological level of the person.
• Unhealthy diet. These experiences are related to a dietary intake of products with a higher caloric density,

It is therefore important to understand that “if we want to contribute to the health of others, it seems that restricting this type of comments is the best alternative, in this way, we do not trigger negative and harmful responses to health,” Gómez points out.

Both variables, in turn, are linked to a higher BMI. “In this way, we show that stigma itself is a negative variable and is a common experience among people with higher BMIs. said the doctor.

Thus, the stigma associated with weight, which includes the discrimination and prejudice associated with having a large body, predispose Encourage people to adopt less healthy behaviors what it raises the existence of a vicious circle in which the psychological responses such as stress or anxiety, are linked to behaviors such as excessive consumption of high-calorie foods, which make it difficult to lose weight.

What cannot be ignored, according to the main author, is that many of the discriminatory comments, even if they do not have malicious intent at their base, are expressions of prejudice and discrimination, “thus providing evidence that explains the negative that it is to one’s health to make these judgments, it could help the cultural change that we need to promote”.

Regarding the type of comments that are made that can lead to poor eating, the results of the study suggest that for different reasons, as a result of these comments, whether they are expressed as “positive” or ” negative”, “our coping strategies can go in the direction of food overeating” Gomez points out.

There are many coping strategies that could be explored as a result of stigma.

For example, in studies that the same team is currently conducting, attention is paid in physical activity or sedentary lifestyle behavior, as well as in social isolation or body dissatisfaction that are associated with experiences of stigma, as well as more active coping responses, which seek to end stigma or limit feedback received regarding body shape.

The research, published by the Journal of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine eating behavior is not limited to a single stimulus.

Sometimes people eat not because they are hungry, but in response to an emotional state. “Our study shows that stress and these negative experiences not only trigger the psychological desire to eat something, butbut also a physiological response, such as an increase in cortisol, which is also linked to excessive food consumption,” explains the UFRO researcher.

The study also identified another relevant aspect:

Comments related to appearance have very negative consequences for overweight people.SW, And the main source of discrimination is within the family.

Besides, social contexts, transport, clothing and health also contribute to this discrimination.

In this sense, Dr. Gómez emphasizes the importance of restricting these comments about weight to promote health, since they body weight is not an absolute indicator of health.

“It is important to make society understand that what you say about another person has consequences, in this particular case, tWe have the evidence that supports why we should not talk about the body of the other ” emphasizes the researcher.

Often people claim that commenting on someone’s body or weight precisely because they are interested in their health, however, in light of the evidence, “if we really care about someone’s health, then we should avoid any stigmatizing situation”.

For example, it is recommended:

• Stop judging someone on their weight. or make jokes about how much food someone eats.
• Don’t notice anyone else whether you have lost or gained weight.
• Questioning a person’s own beliefs. For example, “many people believe that being overweight is synonymous with illness and this is not necessarily the case, we could be dealing with a thin person who has illnesses or a overweight person who Metabolically he is healthy, so judging his health solely on his looks would be a mistake.

“Honestly, I wish we as a society would advance to such a level that it is not necessary for me to continue studying this phenomenon. and need to change direction,” says Gómez.

This way it will be known that weight stigma is not an issue to pay attention to, but for now the researcher hopes continue to develop research that helps understand the consequences of stigma and being able to communicate the results to those they have obtained in all possible spaces.

The publication will be rewarded with The International Society of Behavioral Medicine, as part of a recognition of the regional contribution implied by the publication of the results of this study.

“I feel very satisfied and happy with the value of the work that I carry out, especially considering that geographically we are a very small region of South America, so that you have decided to recognize this work is without any a big achievement for me,” Gomez said.

On the other hand, I believe that to the extent that this recognition makes results visible, “we are also reaching hard-to-reach spaces. I say this because for those of us who are in research, it is essential to connect with the political public or with the agencies in charge of decision-making, so this same note that arises concerning recognition, This can contribute to the visibility we give to issues as important as this.” Add.

“Health is a priority area and where there are huge gaps. For this reason, at the University of La Frontera we have made available our applied research capacity to bring scientific evidence to one of the problems that most affect our current society, such as weight stigma and the consequences that this leads, “he comments. For his part, the rector of this house of studies, Eduardo Hebel.

With Dr. Daniela Gómez, Dr. Margarita Cancino and Dr. Manuel Ortiz, both from the University of La Frontera, as well as Dr. Patricia Moreno, who is currently an academic at the University of Miami, but who at the time of the publication was a researcher at Northwestern University.