“It is over there, next to that fat lady”: a qualitative study of fat women’s own body perceptions and weight-related discriminations

Author(s):Show less -

Mariana Dimitrov Ulian ^[1] ; Priscila de Morais Sato ^[2] ; Ana Jéssica Pinto ^[3] ; Fabiana B. Benatti ^[4] ; Patricia Lopes de Campos-Ferraz ^[5] ; Desire Coelho ^[6] ; Odilon J. Roble ^[7] ; Fernanda Sabatini ^[8] ; Isabel Perez ^[9] ; Luiz Aburad ^[10] ; André Vessoni ^[11] ; Ramiro Fernandez Unsain ^[12] ; Bruno Gualano ^[13] ; Fernanda B. Scagliusi ^[14]

Affiliation:Show less -

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Departamento de Nutrição - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Departamento de Nutrição - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Grupo de Pesquisa em Fisiologia Aplicada e Nutrição - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Grupo de Pesquisa em Fisiologia Aplicada e Nutrição - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Grupo de Pesquisa em Fisiologia Aplicada e Nutrição - Brasil

^[7] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física - Brasil

^[8] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Departamento de Nutrição - Brasil

^[9] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Departamento de Nutrição - Brasil

^[10] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Departamento de Nutrição - Brasil

^[11] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Departamento de Nutrição - Brasil

^[12] Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade - Brasil

^[13] Universidade de São Paulo. Grupo de Pesquisa em Fisiologia Aplicada e Nutrição - Brasil

^[14] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Departamento de Nutrição - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Saúde e Sociedade; v. 29, n. 4 2020-11-18.

Abstract

Abstract We investigated fat women’s perceptions of their own bodies and their experiences with weight-related discriminations, and how these situations affected their well-being. Thirty-nine obese women were interviewed, and three axes of analysis were identified: (1) repercussions of being fat, (2) living with a fat body, and (3) am I a person or just a fat body? These axes were composed of eight themes which had similar meaning or complemented each other. The results showed our participants had mechanisms to diminish the magnitude of their stigmatized bodies (e.g., attempting to lose weight and changing their current food choices). Participants also reported being fat had physical and psychological consequences for them. Most notably, their larger bodies influenced their self-evaluation, making them feel devalued, unlovable, incapable, and incomplete. They reported stigmatizing experiences in familiar situations, at the workplace and in public spaces, and reported being stigmatized by both close and unknown individuals, including healthcare professionals. These professionals were reported to treat patients disrespectfully, which urges attention to health care inequalities for obese people. Our results stress stigmatizing attitudes towards fat people and their own considerations about themselves have negative consequences in their physical and mental well-being. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/05651-0 - Ultra processed food consumption and feeding practices of mothers in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre: a mixed-methods approach
• Grantee: Priscila de Morais Sato
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/12235-8 - The erotic belly: intersections between health, genders, feedings and sexualities in the homosexual bear community in the City of São Paulo, Brazil
• Grantee: Ramiro Andres Fernandez Unsain
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/26937-4 - Studies on physical (in)activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: characterization, associations with disease and effects of breaking up sedentary time
• Grantee: Ana Jéssica Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 15/03878-2 - Health and Well-Being in Obesity: evaluation of an interdisciplinary intervention based on the "Health at every size" approach for obese women
• Grantee: Fernanda Baeza Scagliusi
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants