Research Article Open Access Peer-Reviewed

Stigma and discrimination against obesity

Jonida Haxhiu

Published in JPASE Journal (Volume 2, Issue 2, December 2015)

Received: 1 December 2015
Accepted: 1 December 2015
Published: 2 December 2015
ISSN: 2308-5045
Views: 22 Downloads: 4
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Abstract

Prevalence of obese people is increasing day by day all over the world, including Albania. Although, in our country the figures are still low compared with other countries. Obese persons, experience a high level of stigma and prejudice in many contexts of life, which increases the possibility that obese people experience psychological problems, which makes it difficult for them greatly daily functioning. This is a qualitative research. Given the issue and what is expected to be revealed is supposed that it would be more efficient if it will evolve in such a way. This study aims to explore and understand in depth a problem as stigma and prejudice against obese people. For this study were conducted 21 in-depth interviews and four focus groups. A total of 30 people attended, obese and non obese persons. The sample was an equal number of men and women. The study showed that stigma and discrimination against obese persons are present in many contexts. Stigma and discrimination against obese persons are present in children, adolescents, adults, in the context of health, etc.

Published in
JPASE Journal (Volume 2, Issue 2, December 2015)
ISSN
2308-5045
Page(s)
53
Keywords
obesity, stigma, discrimination, health services
Creative Commons
This is an Open Access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright
Copyright © 2026 JPASE Journal

Keywords

obesity, stigma, discrimination, health services

Prevalence of obese people is increasing day by day all over the world, including Albania. Although, in our country the figures are still low compared with other countries. There is a dramatic increase in obe- sity figures, which has prompted the World Health Organization to consider obesity a global epidemic. Despite the world-wide spread of this problem and understanding of concepts related to genetic heritage weight, negative attitudes and behaviors associated with obese people continue to be present in all in- dustrialized societies. This is likely to be related to the overvaluation that in these societies become the elegant body shape. Field researchers think scorn and diskretititmi persons, unfortunately are still pres- ent, remaining as the last form “socially acceptable” prejudice. Prejudice against obese persons, starts soon. Crandall 1999, for example, found that obese children had less support from their families to pay for school, compared with their peers with normal weight. Associated with weight discrimination ap- pears more in women rather than men. Roehlin, Puhl and Brownell, 1999, have confirmed this in a study with 210 subjects. In this study, highlight the link that exists between two factors obesity, prejudice and dis- crimination – which is likely to contribute to psycho- logical problems in obese persons. The presence of stigma and prejudice, incresases psychological prob- lems to obese people, paying special attention to risk factors, including sex, presence of binge episodes and degree of obesity. Impact of body image is very large in quality of life, as the effects of losing and regain- ing weight to psychological state. Also, stigma and discrimination, can be linked with the complications that can arise during psychosocial treatment to obese people. This is due to the prejudices of staff deliver- ing health services.

 

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