The Harmful Effects of Fat Shaming

Fat shaming involves criticizing and harassing overweight people about their weight or eating habits to make them feel ashamed of themselves.

The belief is that this may motivate people to eat less, exercise more, and lose weight.

In the majority of cases, the people who fat-shame others are slim and never had to struggle with a weight problem.

Research shows that much of the discussion on obesity on social media involves fat shaming, which often turns into harassment and cyberbullying — especially against women (2).

In fact, there are entire online communities where people gather to make fun of overweight people.

However, stigma and discrimination against overweight people cause major psychological harm and worsen the problem.

SUMMARY

Fat shaming is the act of criticizing and harassing overweight people about their weight or eating behavior. It’s often justified as a means to motivate people, but research shows that it has the opposite effect.

Discrimination causes stress and negatively affects people.

In the case of overweight individuals, this stress can drive them to eat more and gain more weight (3).

In a study in 93 women, exposure to weight-stigmatizing information made those who were overweight — but not normal-weight — eat more calories and feel less in control of their eating (4).

In another study in 73 overweight women, those who watched a stigmatizing video ate 3 times as many calories afterward compared to those who watched a non-stigmatizing video (5).

Numerous other studies support that any type of fat shaming causes overweight people to become stressed, eat more calories, and gain more weight (3).

SUMMARY

Many studies show that weight discrimination — including fat shaming — causes stress and leads overweight people to eat more calories.

Many observational studies have looked at weight discrimination and the risk of future weight gain and obesity.

In one study in 6,157 people, participants without obesity who experienced weight discrimination were 2.5 times more likely to develop obesity over the next few years (6).

Additionally, people with obesity who experienced weight discrimination were 3.2 times more likely to remain having obesity (6).

This shows that fat shaming is unlikely to motivate people to lose weight.

Another study in 2,944 people found that weight discrimination was linked to a 6.67-times greater risk of developing obesity (1).

SUMMARY

Many observational studies indicate that weight discrimination is linked to weight gain and a drastic increase in obesity risk.

The harmful effects of fat shaming go beyond increased weight gain — which is serious enough.

Here are some other harmful effects supported by studies (6, 7, 8):

• Depression. People who are discriminated against due to weight are at a higher risk of depression and other mental issues.
• Eating disorders. Fat shaming is linked to an increased risk of eating disorders, such as binge eating.
• Reduced self-esteem. Fat shaming is linked to reduced self-esteem.
• Others. By causing stress, weight gain, increased cortisol levels, and mental problems, weight discrimination may raise your risk of various chronic diseases.

Research is very clear that fat shaming harms people — both psychologically and physically (8).

SUMMARY

Weight discrimination can cause depression, eating disorders, reduced self-esteem, and an increased risk of various other mental and physical problems.

As mentioned above, studies show that weight discrimination is linked to an increased risk of depression.

For instance, one study found that those who had experienced weight discrimination were 2.7 times more likely to become depressed (9).

Numerous studies indicate that depression is very common among people who have obesity — especially those with extreme obesity (10, 11).

Depression is one of the top causes for increased suicide risk, and in a study in 2,436 people, severe obesity was associated with a 21-times greater risk of suicidal behavior and a 12-times greater risk of attempted suicide (12).

While studies on fat shaming and suicide risk are lacking, it’s plausible that the harmful effects of weight discrimination may increase suicide risk.

SUMMARY

Depression is one of the top causes for increased suicide risk — and people who have obesity are more likely to be depressed. It’s plausible that weight discrimination may increase suicide risk.

Weight discrimination — including fat shaming — leads to stress and causes overweight and people with obesity to eat more.

This form of bullying may not only cause additional weight gain but is also linked to depression, eating disorders, reduced self-esteem, and an increased risk of various other mental and physical problems.