On the occasion of World Obesity Day, a new survey reveals the real figures of fatphobia in France. Nearly one young woman in two (47%) suffers from daily discrimination related to her weight.
- “People with obesity suffer this discrimination repeatedly and everywhere: in the public sphere, at school, at work, at home and even in the medical sphere”.
- Within France, obesity affects nearly 7 million people, or about 15% of the population (it only affected 5.30% of French people in 1981).
According to a new Odoxa survey and some League against obesity, nearly one in five French people (18%) currently suffers or has already suffered discrimination. People suffering from obesity are particularly victims of it: almost one in two young women (47%) in this situation suffers from it. “People with obesity experience this discrimination repeatedly and everywhere: in the public sphere, at school, at work, at home and even in the medical sphere”, add the pollsters.
Children and adolescents who are victims of grossophobia
Children also suffer from this discrimination (1 in 10) and young people with obesity are 4 times more often victims than others (40%). Teenage girls are particularly affected: 54% of obese young girls aged 14 to 17 are regularly affected by bullying. “It is therefore urgent that the public authorities react and take the measure of this problem”, experts say.
“This large study carried out among 12,000 people, including 2,200 children, testifies with precision and sincerity to the extent and seriousness of these humiliating attitudes with deleterious physical and psychological repercussions on the victims. havoc: higher risk of depression, deterioration of self-esteem, increased likelihood of suffering from eating disorders, poor medical monitoring, dropout of children, desocialization of adults…”, comments the League against obesity.
In France, obesity affects nearly 7 million people
In 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), overweight and obesity affect more than 2 billion people worldwide. Within France, obesity affects nearly 7 million people, or about 15% of the population (it only affected 5.30% of French people in 1981). One out of six French pupils is a victim of obesity in 3rd grade. 18% of adolescents are overweight and 5% suffer from severe obesity.
Obesity causes the death of 180,000 people every year (160,000 die of cancer, 500 of AIDS). Obesity has been recognized as a chronic disease by the World Health Organization since 1997. Several European countries have already given it full pathology status, such as Portugal (2004) or Italy (2019). In Germany, the discussion is about to end. “France, it still does not recognize obesity as a disease and it is not the subject of recognition “Long Term Affection” by Health Insurance”, deplores the League against obesity.
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