Understanding The Negative Stigma of Obesity

Being Overweight Has Consequences

The social results of being overweight and obese are serious and widely extensive. Overweight and obese people are frequently targets of prejudice and shame, and they are powerless against negative attitudes in multiple domains of living including places of employment, educational institutions, medical facilities, the mass media, and interpersonal relationships.

The results of being overweight may fall under three categories: physical, mental and social. Research has documented that people who encounter weight stigmatization have higher rates of depression, anxiety, social segregation, and low mental change. Some obese adults may respond to weight shame by disguising and tolerating negative states of mind against them, which may thus expand their weakness to low self-esteem. In an extreme form, disgrace can bring about both inconspicuous and obvious types of discrimination, for example, employment discrimination where a hefty employee is denied a position or advancement because of his or her appearance, notwithstanding being suitably qualified.

Help Is Possible!

Health experts can make a difference by becoming distinctly mindful of their own biases, creating sympathy, and attempting to address the needs and concerns of overweight patients.

Investigate all causes of presenting problems, not simply weight
Recognize that numerous patients have attempted to lose weight more than once
Emphasize behavior changes as opposed to only the number on the scale
Offer solid advice, such as begin an activity program, eat at home, and so on., instead of essentially saying, “You have to lose weight.”
Acknowledge the difficulty of lifestyle changes
Recognize that little weight losses can bring about huge health gains

Losing weight can lower your risk for these diseases:

Coronary heart disease
High blood pressure
Strokes
Type 2 diabetes
Some cancers
Experiencing fertility problems
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
In addition to the above, obesity can reduce your life expectancy by up to 9 years and many chronic diseases can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight.
Being overweight can also put extra pressure on joints and limbs, making activity quite difficult and sometimes any movement at all can be painful.
Other physical problems caused by obesity are that obese women who become pregnant have a higher risk pregnancy that than of a healthy weight.

At MedShape, we understand your desire on how to lose weight as a priority that is why we can match you with a personalized daily calorie budget and weight loss program.

So it is not all doom and gloom as there is help available if you are overweight or obese. It is a condition that you CAN do something about.