Bias, Discrimination, and Obesity

Puhl, Rebecca M.; Brownell, Kelly D.

doi:10.1038/oby.2001.108

Cited by 1,718 publications

(1,065 citation statements)

References 94 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

996

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The smaller socioeconomic inequality for men may be partly explained by greater employment in manual labor among low income men, which is consistent with theories of income and obesity posited by Lakdawalla and Philipson (2009). An additional explanation is that women have been shown to be more affected by the negative societal attitude toward obesity (Puhl and Brownell 2001); therefore, they are more likely to invest resources in order to pursue a thinner ideal than men (Zhang and Wang 2004). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring Socioeconomic Inequality in Obesity: Looking Beyond the Obesity Threshold

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We combine two of the most widely used measures in the inequality and poverty literature, the concentration index and Foster–Greer–Thorbecke metric to the analysis of socioeconomic inequality in obesity. This enables us to describe socioeconomic inequality not only in obesity status but also in its depth and severity. We apply our method to 1971–2012 US data and show that while the socioeconomic inequality in obesity status has now almost disappeared, this is not the case when depth and severity of obesity are considered. Such socioeconomic gradient is found to be greatest among non‐Hispanic whites, but decomposition analysis also reveals an inverse relationship between income and obesity outcomes among Mexican Americans once the effect of immigrant status has been accounted for. The socioeconomic gradient is also greater among women with marital status further increasing it for severity of obesity while the opposite is true among men. Overall, the socioeconomic gradient exists as poorer individuals lie further away from the obesity threshold. Our study stresses the need for policies that jointly consider obesity and income to support those who suffer from the double burden of poverty and obesity‐related health conditions. © 2016 The Authors. Health Economics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring Socioeconomic Inequality in Obesity: Looking Beyond the Obesity Threshold

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There is considerable stigma attached to the labels of being ‘overweight’ or ‘obese’ 112, 113, 114. Thus, individuals who recognize that they are overweight will be aware that they are part of a widely stigmatized and derogated social group.…”

Section: Public Health Implications Of the Under‐detection Of Overweimentioning

confidence: 99%

Overweight but unseen: a review of the underestimation of weight status and a visual normalization theory

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryAlthough overweight and obesity are widespread across most of the developed world, a considerable body of research has now accumulated, which suggests that adiposity often goes undetected. A substantial proportion of individuals with overweight or obesity do not identify they are overweight, and large numbers of parents of children with overweight or obesity fail to identify their child as being overweight. Lay people and medical practitioners are also now poor at identifying overweight and obesity in others. A visual normalization theory of the under‐detection of overweight and obesity is proposed. This theory is based on the notion that weight status is judged relative to visual body size norms. Because larger body sizes are now common, this has caused a recalibration to the range of body sizes that are perceived as being ‘normal’ and increased the visual threshold for what constitutes ‘overweight’. Evidence is reviewed that indicates this process has played a significant role in the under‐detection of overweight and obesity. The public health relevance of the under‐detection of overweight and obesity is also discussed.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 Persons with obesity earn less money, face discrimination from individuals and institutions, and experience insults on a frequent basis. 1 Obesity stigma is harmful and has been associated with low self-esteem, depression and eating disorders. 2,3 Despite the increasing commonness of obesity, obesity stigma is increasing even as other disparities are decreasing or have remained unchanged.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%