The stigmatization and judgment of people with obesity, which is, let us remember, an illness, can lead to a loss of confidence in oneself and in health professionals, jeopardizing the continuation of medical care.
- Stigmatization of obesity can lead to psychological consequences, such as depression and low self-esteem.
- Journalist Hélia Hakimi-Prévot has written a book about it, entitled “The Truth About Obesity”, which deals with the medical, societal and mental issues surrounding this disease.
- According to INSERM: “45% of those surveyed had high scores indicating support for the idea that obesity is due to a lack of willpower.”
“Last February, the High Authority for Health (HAS) updated its guide on the care pathway for overweight and obesity in adults. One of the key measures is the importance of training doctors and specialists on how to approach the subject of obesity, both in terms of the words used and the attitudes adopted, in order to combat stigmatization. When a patient leaves the doctor’s office and has felt stigmatized by his own doctor, he no longer wants to persevere and take care of himself from a medical point of view. And the HAS offers doctors training, continuing education, particularly for general practitioners, and also for anyone who wishes, to be able to better understand patients with obesity and to approach a non-stigmatizing relationship of trust with them,” explains Hélia Hakimi-Prévot, journalist and author of the book “The Truth About Obesity” at Robert Laffont publishing house during a press lunch on this theme.
“A simple glance can sometimes affect the doctor-patient relationship”
Professor Lionel Collet, President of the HAS, also insists on the importance of an empathetic and respectful approach: “We know that a simple glance can sometimes affect the doctor-patient relationship, as can the choice of words and the environment in which it is received. It is essential to adopt a non-judgmental and listening stance towards people who are overweight or obese, I am thinking in particular of adolescents. The commitment of patients in their care depends on it.“
What is the view on obesity?
Obesity is often misunderstood and reduced to a matter of individual responsibility, fueling prejudice and stigma. Many believe that obese people eat too much and move too little, wrongly labeling them as lazy, sloppy and lacking willpower.
A study conducted by the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN) of the Sorbonne Paris Nord University and Paris Cité University, Inserm, INRAE, CNAM, the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS) and the Nutrition departments of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital and the Georges Pompidou European Hospital (AP-HP), reveals results on prejudices related to obesity. According to this study, only 9% of participants (12% of men and 6% of women) displayed negative prejudices.
Excessive concern about weight is the most common prejudice, affecting 55% of participants (62% of women and 47% of men). This prejudice is particularly high among obese people and students, regardless of gender. It is not yet clear whether this concern is related to health issues or to “societal” beauty standards.
Regarding the “lack of willpower” bias, 45% of respondents (38% of women, 54% of men) believe that obesity is due to a lack of willpower. Obese people have lower scores, indicating some internalization of this bias. Lower education is also associated with higher scores, suggesting that education plays a crucial role in reducing weight-related prejudice.
