The stigma of obesity in adolescence

Abstract

Introduction/Objective. Obese children and adolescents are exposed to stigma and discrimination from peers, teachers and family which can lead to numerous health problems, including psychosocial problems. The aim of this study is to determine whether obese adolescents in Serbia are exposed to stigmatization and which are the most common forms of stigmatization they face. Methods. The study included 335 adolescents who were hospitalized for a treatment of obesity. During hospitalization weight and height were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Participants completed independently Questionnaire about weightbased stigmatization made for the purpose of this research. Questionnaire also included questions about sex, age of respondents, and about obesity of other family members. Results. Fifty-nine percent of participants experienced offence, 19% were teased, 47.5% were subject of a gossip, and 25% were excluded from peer group; 45% reported that other people had prejudice against them. Male adolescents significantly more often faced overt forms of stigmatization/discrimination compared to female adolescents. Nineteen percent of participants were stigmatized by health workers and 6% stated that their family is ashamed of their obesity. Conclusion. A significant percent of obese adolescents is exposed to a stigma due to their weight, most often to insults, gossip and social exclusion. Obese adolescents are most often exposed to stigmatization by peers, but there are a significant proportion of adolescents who are exposed to stigma from health workers.

Keywords

• adolescent
• obese
• obesity
• stigma
• body weight