There are still strong prejudices about obesity, which affects nearly one in two French people. A study shows the significant share of those who point to the lack of willpower in overweight people.
- Obesity or overweight affect one out of two French people.
- The prejudice on the absence of will as a cause of the disease is still very strong.
- This prejudice contributes to the discrimination of overweight people.
Obesity is a scourge that affects nearly one in two French people. However, many prejudices persist about the causes of this pathology. According to a study cited by the journal Le Figaro and published in theAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine, the lack of willpower to adopt a healthier lifestyle or eating habits is still often considered the main cause of obesity.
The lack of will pointed out by 45% of the participants in the study
The study was conducted with a cohort of nearly 34,000 French adults, 35% of whom were overweight or obese. Among the participants, 55% confessed to worrying excessively about their weight, while 45% believe that obesity is due to a lack of willpower. This belief is shared according to socio-demographic factors such as having a normal weight, a low level of education or a high income.
A misconception of the causes of obesity
The researchers point out that this is an erroneous view of people in a state of obesity which reveals a lack of knowledge of the causes of this pathology. Indeed, obesity is a multifactorial disease that results from the interaction of several factors, such as behavioral, environmental, genetic, metabolic, social and psychological factors. The overweight person is not responsible for their condition and cannot be blamed for their lack of willpower.
Prejudices born in childhood
Prejudices about obesity and being overweight can be tenacious and often start in childhood, between the ages of 3 and 6, under the influence of parents and the social environment. Overweight children are often victims of discrimination and teasing, which can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and mental health. Obesity prejudices also contribute to fatphobia, a form of discrimination against overweight people that can have adverse consequences on their physical and mental health, social interaction and career paths.
