Looking at the Bigger Picture of Fat Bias - Research Proposal Example

?Running head: FAT BIAS: LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE Fat Bias: Looking at the Bigger Picture Insert Insert Grade Insert September 1, 2011 Fat Bias: Looking at the Bigger Picture Introduction According to Concepcion (p2), “Overweight can be defined as a body mass index, a weight to height ratio, equal to, or greater than 25.” Weight bias can be described as a form of discrimination towards the overweight individuals. In addition, overweight is related to lack of self-discipline in eating behavior, hence the society tends to think that they deserve the cruelty associated with people’s reactions towards them. Stigmatization is an even heavier burden to carry compared to their weight. Concepcion (p1) describes how powerful the impact of weight discrimination can be, especially on the victim’s self worth. Stigmatization is often associated with negative attitudes towards the affected individuals, hence interfering with their self-esteem and confidence. However, in the overweight case, prejudice and stigmatization is sometimes justified by the society as they feel that overweight is due to lack of self-discipline (Crandall 882). According to concepcion (p1), overweight individuals in the United States are commonly subjected to severe stigmatization due to the perception that weight is controllable, thus believing that the overweight deserve to be discriminated against. Nevertheless, the overweight individuals are usually aware of the society discrimination towards them, hence they feel out of place and are likely to develop low self-esteem and find comfort in eating even more (Concepcion, p5). Moreover, the myth that entails a thin body is related to beauty has corrupted the western world and therefore increasing weight bias. In addition, weight loss is being exercised at all cost, including smoking, vomiting and surgery among others; however, this is not right, but individuals do not want to experience weight bias. Arguments Brien, Hunter, & Banks (308) research reveals that discrimination against the obese individuals has spread to the general society, which includes schools, employment sectors, and even in health care. Nevertheless, the authors’ study proved that in schools, the overweight students are referred to physical exercise (PE), and their findings indicated that PE students tend to think that the obese students lack the determination and will power to loose weight; hence, it was evident that PE students had increased anti-fat prejudice attitudes towards the obese. In addition, Brien, Hunter, & Banks (p313) add that education institutions needs to implement programs aimed at reducing the anti-fat prejudice as they enhance physical exercise. Brownell, et al, (p5) admits that weight bias exists in the society especially since they consider the overweight as having corrupted the definition of an ideal culture. In addition, the study confirms that those with eating disorders tend to worry more, thus contributing to weight gain. However, stigmatization of the overweight can be more of a burden for the victims compared to their weight problem, as stigma tears them apart both emotionally and psychologically. Saguy (p445) defends the “logic of function individualism,” in which Kirkland emphases that an individual’s judgment should be based on the capability to perform a task and should not be judged by his/her looks. She further adds that protection should not be based on the looks; fatness is sometimes treated as racism especially when it is out of control. Saguy (446) emphasizes on Kirkland’s argument that most employers and education institutions include the size of an individual in their missions, thus hindering potential candidates from applying for employments or admissions in schools. This proves that schools are associated with stigmatization, thus overweight applicants are likely to be denied the chances to progress. Oliver (2005) discusses that most health practitioners rate obese as a killer disease. He further argues that there is little proof that overweight can cause many diseases and deaths as practitioners claim and neither can weight loss guarantee fit health. Rather, he insists that overweight is driven by prejudice, and profits other those scientific facts that show relevant proof. According to Oliver (131), surgeon David Satcher gave a warning that obesity causes over 300,000 deaths annually rendering it an epidemic. However, Oliver emphasizes that the obese campaigns are the main drives towards unhealthy practices such as starvation, slimming pills, and gastric by-pass among others. As a result, he emphasizes on healthy eating and exercising as a health promoters, which citizens should be well informed of (Oliver p132). According to Anon. (2008), obesity issues drive people to courts, and questions are arising whether obesity issues qualify to be disabilities, in which crime and punishment are questionable. This is due to a case involving an overweight lady in Texas who claims to have accidentally fallen on her two-year-old nephew, as she weighed 800 pounds; however, she was charged with first degree of murder. This left many questions unanswered one of them being whether obesity is a disability. Reyes & Cruz (100) further explain that overweight children, adolescents, and adults experienced stigmatization following a study carried out in Mexico, which also includes university students, which results to friendship bias towards the obese individuals. Doctor’s weight bias is evident; this is according to Rodriguez (2011, p8), thus contributing to reluctance of patients to consult doctors, hence compromising their health. The author further emphasizes that eating habits do not define obesity; however, there are several thin individuals eating unhealthily. According to Greenleaf & Abbels (105), weight bias is evident even in institutions; hence, educators face the challenge of promoting health weight attitudes among the student to enhance physical fitness. A study carried out by the authors on the effectiveness of school programs towards overweight showed that education institutions are not doing enough to curb this problem. Since physical educators are weight bias, they are discouraging students of all sizes from participating due to their affected self-esteem. Obesity is associated with health issues as well as emotional health. In addition, the second worry of the overweight people is discrimination in the society. Due to the fact that obese is associated with laziness and indiscipline, in schools, obese students are occasionally harassed and teachers portray biased attitudes towards the overweight students. Rodriguez’s (8) research indicates that patients have severally complained of doctor’s weight bias. The society is partially to blame for the created myth that describes thinness as the ideal culture, hence contributing to unhealthy practices such as induced vomiting, fasting, diet pills, and surgery among others, as stated in Oliver’s article. These hasty actions are driven by the urge of fitting in to the “ideal culture”. The impacts of stigmatization on the overweight are low self-esteem, and depression among other effects, thus destroying the victim’s self worth. Stigmatization can also lead to unhealthy eating behaviors, and lack of physical activities and even the ignorance of health care. Having compared different studies, overweight can be considered as a social harm especially to the affected individuals; hence, people should be educated on healthy living. Whilst the society should encourage the overweight to work out, other than rejecting and discrimination against them. Conclusion Overweight individuals are mostly associated with laziness, foolishness, and indiscipline, thus leaving them vulnerable to prejudices and stigmatization. According to the above study, overweight candidates are not preferred for job opportunities, even with outstanding qualifications. Thus, overweight has been considered to resemble racism, in terms of stigmatization and biases. Therefore, it is the duty of the government to ensure that overweight people are not subject to discrimination. In addition, education institutions should work towards fostering positive attitude in the overweight related issues. Moreover, physical fitness programs should be encouraged in schools with an aim of assisting the overweight students minus prejudice; physical educators should also work towards fostering healthy and positive attitudes towards weight. Stigmatization should not be evident towards any group of people regardless of their problems. Learning institutions should not discriminate against overweight applicants; however, an individual should be rated on his ability to perform and not his/her size. Works Cited Anon. “Obesity weighs on legal minds; Questions of whether severe obesity can be considered a disability or even a legal defense have become the centre of an important debate.” The Gazette 23 Nov. 2008. Brien, KS et al. “Implicit anti-fat bias in physical educators: physical attributes ideology and socialization.” International Journal of Obesity, 31.2 (2006); 308-14. Brownell, Kelly et al. Weight Bias: Nature, Consequences, and Remedies. New York: The Guilford P, 2005, 61-73 Crandall, Christian S. "Prejudice Against Fat People: Ideology and Self-Interest." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66.5 (1994): 882-894. Concepcion, Rebecca. Weight stigma consciousness and perceived physical appearance: Their key precursors and relationship to health behaviors. Diss. Oregon State University, 2007. Greenleaf, Christy and Abels, Karen. Perceptions of youth obesity among physical educators. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Vol. 76, Issue 1, 2005, pg. A105. Kirkland, Anna Rutherford. Fat Rights: Dilemmas of Difference and Personhood. New York: New York UP, 2008. Oliver, Eric. Fat Politics: The Real Story Behind America’s Obesity Epidemic. New York: Oxford UP, 2006. Reyes, Maria and Cruz, Arturo. Stigmatization of Overweight Mexican Children. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev, Vol.38, 2007, pp. 99–105. Rodriguez, Lavina. Doctor’s weight bias led patient to avoid medical care. St. Petersburg times, 2011. Saguy, Abigail. “Fat Rights: Dilemmas of Difference and Personhood.” Contemporary Sociology; 38, 5, Sep 2009. Read More