Obesity Discrimination: Some Scary Statistics
There is only one type of discrimination that is considered "okay" in society today- prejudice towards obese people. While most Americans are overweight(eight out of ten Americans today are overweight), with 43 million people obese, the prejudice towards the obese members of our society is all too common. It's far beyond fat jokes and nasty comments- discrimination towards obese people happens in jobs, in public, and in healthcare.
Women are Often the Target of Public Obesity Discrimination
Obesity discrimination and sex discrimination often go hand in hand. Not too many people shout rude things at very large men, probably because they've discovered that it can be hazardous to their health. But let an obese woman walk by a group of men, and all too often they'll start making comments about the shape and size of the woman's body. Several women have reported being "rated" on a scale of one to ten as they walked past fraternity houses or construction sites.
A more subtle, but still painful, form of obesity discrimination is scolding from the general public. It's a common thing for obese people to have their food choices scrutinized, questioned, and disparaged by the general public. It's very offensive when someone else says you "do you know how many calories that has?" or "do you really need to eat that much?" Sometimes obese people even have to hear well meaning but nasty comments such as "you'd be so pretty if you would just lose some weight".
Obesity discrimination starts as early as kindergarten - both boys and girls report being targeted for cruel jokes and harsh treatment even at these very young ages. A pack mentality sometimes sets in, with all the "normal" kids ridiculing the obese one. Befriending an obese child , even at this early stage in life, is considered a bad choice and is ridiculed.
Discrimination in Healthcare
Obesity discrimination is also commonly seen in the healthcare field. Many private insurance companies will not offer insurance coverage to obese patients due to the perceived increased cost. Additionally, many doctors treat obese patients with less courtesy and respect than they deserve. Some doctors simply tell their patients "go on a diet", without giving really in depth guidance, even when physicians know that about 95% of dieters will regain all their weight!
Obesity Discrimination and Employment
Employment discrimation is the most commonly seen type of discrimination against obese people that we see today. Statistics compiled by the American Obesity Association say that most employers tend to assign unflattering and untrue labels to obese people(such as "emotionally inept"), even when the obese person is just as well qualified as anyone else. Furthermore, employers constantly give obese people a lower ranking for job suitability than even those who are former felons, and mental patients! In fact, The American Obesity Association did a study which showed that obesity has a greater negative impact on securing a job than race, age, and sex.
While the law protects people from discrimination based on age, sex, race, religion, and often sexual orientation, it does not protect obese people at all. The simple fact that obesity discrimination is technically not illegal allows it to take place far too often in today's world.
Women are Often the Target of Public Obesity Discrimination
Obesity discrimination and sex discrimination often go hand in hand. Not too many people shout rude things at very large men, probably because they've discovered that it can be hazardous to their health. But let an obese woman walk by a group of men, and all too often they'll start making comments about the shape and size of the woman's body. Several women have reported being "rated" on a scale of one to ten as they walked past fraternity houses or construction sites.
A more subtle, but still painful, form of obesity discrimination is scolding from the general public. It's a common thing for obese people to have their food choices scrutinized, questioned, and disparaged by the general public. It's very offensive when someone else says you "do you know how many calories that has?" or "do you really need to eat that much?" Sometimes obese people even have to hear well meaning but nasty comments such as "you'd be so pretty if you would just lose some weight".
Obesity discrimination starts as early as kindergarten - both boys and girls report being targeted for cruel jokes and harsh treatment even at these very young ages. A pack mentality sometimes sets in, with all the "normal" kids ridiculing the obese one. Befriending an obese child , even at this early stage in life, is considered a bad choice and is ridiculed.
Discrimination in Healthcare
Obesity discrimination is also commonly seen in the healthcare field. Many private insurance companies will not offer insurance coverage to obese patients due to the perceived increased cost. Additionally, many doctors treat obese patients with less courtesy and respect than they deserve. Some doctors simply tell their patients "go on a diet", without giving really in depth guidance, even when physicians know that about 95% of dieters will regain all their weight!
Obesity Discrimination and Employment
Employment discrimation is the most commonly seen type of discrimination against obese people that we see today. Statistics compiled by the American Obesity Association say that most employers tend to assign unflattering and untrue labels to obese people(such as "emotionally inept"), even when the obese person is just as well qualified as anyone else. Furthermore, employers constantly give obese people a lower ranking for job suitability than even those who are former felons, and mental patients! In fact, The American Obesity Association did a study which showed that obesity has a greater negative impact on securing a job than race, age, and sex.
While the law protects people from discrimination based on age, sex, race, religion, and often sexual orientation, it does not protect obese people at all. The simple fact that obesity discrimination is technically not illegal allows it to take place far too often in today's world.
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