Shaming Takes Toll on Health

The pain of being the target of fat shaming may take a significant toll on one€™s health, according to a new study led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings show that people with high levels of weight bias internalization are much more likely to develop cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Weight bias internalization occurs when people apply negative weight stereotypes to themselves — such as believing they are lazy or unattractive — and devalue themselves because of their weight. “There is a common misconception that stigma might help motivate individuals with obesity to lose weight and improve their health,” said Rebecca Pearl, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Psychology in Psychiatry. “We are finding it has quite the opposite effect. When people feel shamed because of their weight, they are more likely to avoid exercise and consume more calories to cope with this stress.