The stigma of obesity in adolescence

Abstract

© 2018, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved. Introduction/Objective Obese children and adolescents are exposed to stigma and discrimination from peers, teachers, and family, which can lead to numerous health problems, including psychosocial ones. The aim of this study is to determine whether obese adolescents in Serbia are exposed to stigmatization and which are the most common forms of stigmatization they face. Methods The study included 335 adolescents hospitalized for the treatment of obesity. During hospitalization, weight and height were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Participants independently completed the Questionnaire about Weight-based Stigmatization made for the purposes of this research. The Questionnaire also included questions about the gender and age of the respondents, as well as questions about obesity of their family members. Results Fifty-nine percent of the participants experienced offence, 19% were teased, 47.5% were the subject of gossip, and 25% were excluded from their peer group; 45% reported that people had prejudice against them. Male adolescents faced overt forms of stigmatization/discrimination significantly more often than female adolescents. Nineteen percent of participants were stigmatized by healthcare workers, and 6% stated that their family was ashamed of their obesity. Conclusion A significant percent of obese adolescents in Serbia is exposed to a stigma due to their weight, most often to insults, gossip, and social exclusion. Obese adolescents are most often exposed to stigmatization by peers, but there are a significant proportion of adolescents who are exposed to stigma from healthcare workers. It is necessary to educate healthcare workers about the stigma of body weight and its harmful effects and to implement measures to mitigate consequences of stigmatization of obese adolescents, as well as to prevent it.