Body Size Stigmatization in Preschool Children: The Role of Control Attributions

Musher‐Eizenman, Dara R.; Holub, Shayla C.; Miller, Amy; Goldstein, Sara E.; Edwards-Leeper, Laura

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsh063

Cited by 148 publications

(167 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Weight bias appears stronger than wheelchair disability bias in this group of children at least. These children's own friendship preferences for healthy weight or thin shaped characters over fat characters are in agreement with other studies in this age group (e.g., Musher-Eizenman et al, 2004) and in older children (Hill & Silver, 1995). The social rejection aspect of anti-fat bias is evident in the mere proximity literature above, in adolescent social network analyses (Strauss & Pollack, 2003), and evidence reviews of research with children of primary school age (Rees et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Again, this contrasts with the study by Musher-Eizenman et al (2004). Naughtiness, unhappiness with appearance, and social rejection (in ratings and the children's own personal choices) were attributed characteristics of fat 'Alfie' and 'Alfina'.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 83%

“…Similar findings were reported by Kraig and Keel (2001) in research with slightly older (7-to 9-year-old) children. But this contrasts with overall negative ratings in a study of US 4-to 6-year-olds that used the drawings from the Collins (1991) body figure scale as targets (Musher-Eizenman et al, 2004). The difference in outcome may be related to the figural stimuli used and to our presentation of the characters within a social story context prior to the ratings and choices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Consequently, researchers have developed alternative approaches such as rating thin and fat body shapes on semantic differential scales (Brylinski & Moore, 1994;Musher-Eizenman, Holub, Barnhart Miller, Goldstein, & Edwards-Leeper, 2004), matching these body shapes to the character (mean or nice) of a child in a story (Cramer & Steinwert, 1998), and even asking children why they made these choices (Su & Aurelia, 2011). However, there have been few attempts to compare methodologies, particularly in their potential to favour negativity (Jarvie et al, 1983).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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“No fat friend of mine”: Young children's responses to overweight and disability

2016

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Two studies investigated 4-to 6-year-old children's weight bias. In Study 1, 126 children read illustrated books where a main character ('Alfie') was healthy weight, in a wheelchair, or overweight. In Study 2, 150 children read the same stories where the character was female ('Alfina'), or stories where her friends were fat. Children rated 'Alfie'/'Alfina' and a comparison character on nine attributes/behaviours, and chose one that best represented each attribute. Fat and wheelchair 'Alfie'/'Alfina' were rated less likely to win a race, and fat 'Alfie'/'Alfina' as having fewer friends. When forced to choose between characters, fat 'Alfie'/'Alfina' was rejected on most constructs. Children's gender, self-perceived shape, and character's friends' size had no effect on judgements. These findings show children's preferences away from fatness rather than outright rejection, and mostly clearly in friendship choices. Understanding young children's weight bias is important given their increasing involvement in obesity surveillance, prevention, and management.Keywords: Weight bias; Anti-fat attitudes; Stereotyping; Children; Disability; Social rejection 3 "No fat friend of mine": Young children's responses to overweight and disability Bias against people with obesity is evident through well-documented inequities in key areas of people's lives such as employment, education, and healthcare (Puhl & Heuer, 2009). The unacceptability of fatness is reflected in media such as advertising and TV programming and in a portrayal of weight loss that is contingent on personal effort. Given that people with obesity are consequently blamed for their state of body it is unsurprising that experienced (and perceived) weight bias increases vulnerability to psychological and emotional distress.Social marginalization is pivotal to weight bias and stems from the pervasive negative stereotypes regarding the character and behaviour of people with obesity (Puhl & Heuer, 2009). Research into children's obesity stereotyping has a long history and originated in studies of their perception of disability. Asking 10-to11-year-old children, "Which boy (girl) do you like best" from six drawings of children with different physical disabilities, no disability, or obesity, showed the obese child was generally the last to be selected (Richardson, Goodman, Hastorf, & Dornbusch, 1961). In a replication some 40 years later, pre-teen children were even less likely to choose the obese child drawing as being liked over any of the others (Latner & Stunkard, 2003). Increases in obesity prevalence over this period and children's presumed increased familiarity with obesity appear to have done little to ameliorate these negative views.Reviewing the literature on weight stigma in children and adolescents, Puhl and Latner (2007) distinguish educators, parents, and peers as the primary sources of weight bias. The rejection of an obese target (usually a drawing or cartoon) as a friend, someone to play with, or to date, is common to many studies of teens and younge...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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“No fat friend of mine”: Young children's responses to overweight and disability

2016

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“…For example, Musher-Eizenman et al (2004) have asked 4-6 years olds to rate three body figure drawings. Overall, the fat body shape was found to be the most negatively rated.…”

Section: Children's Viewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symposium on ‘Nutrition and health in children and adolescents’ Session 3: Eating behaviour and early indicators of metabolic syndrome Motivation for eating behaviour in adolescent girls: the body beautiful

Hill

2006

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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Body dissatisfaction is commonplace for teenage girls and is associated with dieting and unhealthy weight-control behaviours. The idealisation and pursuit of thinness are seen as the main drivers of body dissatisfaction, with the media prominent in setting thin body ideals. Television and consumer magazine production in the UK are extensive, annually releasing 1 · 10 6 h programming and >3000 magazine titles. Their engagement by adolescent girls is high, and in surveys girls identify thin and revealing body images as influential to the appeal of thinness and their pursuit of dieting. Experimental studies show a short-term impact of these images on body dissatisfaction, especially in teenagers who are already concerned about body image. Magazine images appear more influential than television viewing. For many adolescents selecting thin-image media is purposive, permitting comparison of themselves with the models or celebrities featured. Indeed, the impact of the media needs to be understood within a social context, as engagement is often a highly-social process. Media influence is uneven because of differences in its content and manner of communication, and individual differences in vulnerability to its content. Greater social responsibility on the part of the media and better media literacy by children would be beneficial. For those working in adolescent nutrition it is a reminder that adolescent food choice and intake are subject to many competing, contradictory and non-health-related determinants.

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Families and Schools Together (FAST) for improving outcomes for children and their families

Valentine

Leach

Fowler

et al. 2019

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

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Body Size Stigmatization in Preschool Children: The Role of Control Attributions

Abstract: Results suggest that the relationship between body size stigmatization and control attributions are consistent with attribution theory for young children. Practical implications of these results and possible interventions are discussed.

Cited by 148 publications

References 44 publications

“No fat friend of mine”: Young children's responses to overweight and disability

“No fat friend of mine”: Young children's responses to overweight and disability

Symposium on ‘Nutrition and health in children and adolescents’ Session 3: Eating behaviour and early indicators of metabolic syndrome Motivation for eating behaviour in adolescent girls: the body beautiful

Families and Schools Together (FAST) for improving outcomes for children and their families

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