Publication year: 2011
Source: Social Science & Medicine, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 22 June 2011
Alexandra A., Brewis , Daniel J., Hruschka , Amber, Wutich
Obesity is understood as a major medical and public health challenge, but the stigma attached to it also creates extraordinary suffering. The pervasiveness of morally negative views toward the overweight and obese, such as laziness and lack of self-control, are undeniable in mainstream U.S. society, situated both institutionally (such as health care barriers or media stereotypes) and interpersonally (such as the negative comments of others). To test basic pathways related to the etiology of women’s vulnerability to feeling “fat-stigma” in interpersonal relationships, we present a study conducted between August and November 2009 that combines social network, anthropometric, body image, and…
Highlights: ►The stigma around obesity can cause profound everyday suffering for many. ► Social network characteristics such as average body mass and closeness could influence felt stigma around weight. ► However, such social network characteristics explain little variance in felt stigma. ► The influence of social networks in shaping stigma may be weaker than previously theorized.