Obesity and Bullying: Different Effects for Boys and Girls, Research Paper Example

Background & Introduction

Childhood obesity is a national epidemic, which in recent years, the number of children and toddlers who are considered obese has risen drastically. 1994, the Centers of Disease Control issued a report that the number of children who were considered obese had doubled since 1970. These numbers equated to about 13 percent of children being considered obese. Later that year, the y released another study that conveyed that more than 65 percent of adults are considered obese or overweight (Schvey, Puhl, & Brown, 2011). People who suffer from obesity are ridiculed and stigmatized daily. Children who are considered obese are often publicly humiliated by pointing, laughing, and taunting. When children suffer through this, they are often affected for a lifetime. These types of behaviors send a message to a child that being different is wrong. It also causes them to gain negative perceptions of obesity and themselves. The greatest negative perception is that obese people are lazy and overeaters. Many believe their problems could be solved if they had self-control. In a professional setting, it is very imperative for professionals to understand and be aware of the biases they often harbor. When they have these biases, they too can leave negative perceptions in the minds of the children. With this knowledge, officials can ensure that all students are treated fairly and that some of the negative stigmas placed on obesity can be removed. Stigmatization of obesity in children can have many detrimental effects that can last much longer than childhood.

What is Stigmatization

Stigmatization means “to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon” (Muennig, 2008). Stigmatization is especially detrimental when experienced in childhood. During childhood years is when many important social skills are developed. Children, during this time, are very sensitive to the stigmatization they may encounter due to weight. Many children who are obese report that they have difficulty with peer relations because they are often isolated from their peers (Griffiths, et al, 2006). These very scenarios have been accredited to mental illness later in life. One study concluded that nearly 82 percent of adults suffering from depression were reportedly ostracized as children (Griffiths, et al, 2006). In the last 50 years, researchers have consistently conveyed that children have very negative perspectives of being overweight. Thus, it is believed this stigma can develop as early as 3 years old in some children. Griffiths, Wolke, & Page, 2006, conducted a study among children to determine the influence and effects of stigmatization on young children. They sought to determine the difference between the child’s actual weigh and how they perceived themselves. They also wanted to determine how the body sizes of their peers influenced that stigmatization. They concluded that peer size was a major factor in determining stigmatization. In one group of students they studied, Griffiths, Wolke, & Page found the group of students, that would actually be considered medically overweight, was the main culprits of child that was considered obese. In other words, those students who were also overweight were the one bullying the child that may not be considered overweight by a physician. Consequently, the researchers felt that peer bullying and stigmatization were major factors. They believed that these two factors co-existed.

Effects of Stigmatization

Individual

Obesity stigmatization is a very complex issue. The negative stereotypes of laziness and lack of self-discipline are socially accepted as truth because media has depicted “fat people” to portray certain characteristics. Overweight people have been depicted on television as lazy, smelly, slothful, and over eaters.  These negative stereotypes eventually lead to deep rooted prejudice and societal inequality. According to Puhl & Heuer, “Obese individuals are highly stigmatized and face multiple forms of prejudice and discrimination because of their weight. The prevalence of weight discrimination in the United States has increased by 66% over the past decade (3), and is comparable to rates of racial discrimination, especially among women” (2009).

At these rates, being fat will become a new minority group in itself. When children see this concept, they will feel defeated before they even enter the real world.

Obesity stigma is having both psychological and physical effect on its victims. For example, students who have been stigmatized may develop fear and mistrust of others. In some cases, they develop their own prejudices against the people who have stigmatized them. Finally, in rare cases, those who are being stigmatized may become violent. That violence may be directed towards those who are stigmatizing them, or they may be directing to any person they come in contact with. One of the most prevalent physical effects of stigmatization is when the victim develops self-mutilating ways. The victim has become so unhappy with his/her body that they become cutters. This can lead to other mental disorders like bulimia and anorexia. Essentially, the psychological and physical affects are interrelated.  There has been an increased documentation of depression in obese people. Likewise, about 14 percent of obese individuals reporting having suicidal thoughts.  Researchers believe that stigmas related to obesity have lead to onset of depression and other mental illnesses. For example, “There are certainly conditions and illnesses that can be clearly attributed to obesity. One of these is sleep apnea, which has also been linked to metabolic disruptions” (Muennig, 2008). Most adults who suffer from depression experienced their first symptoms during adolescence. This is especially so for girls. They have also developed low self-esteem when it pertains to their physical appearance. Girls sometimes become infatuated with their bodies because they do not look physically like other girls their age. Essentially, the overall quality of life that overweight or obese children experience is less appealing than that of non-obese children because of the psychological and physical impairments they face.

Body dissatisfaction among adolescents has increased in recent years due to obesity in children. Several studies have been conducted on how body dissatisfaction can lead to eating disorders. It has also been concluded that low self-esteem is linked to body dissatisfaction. Young girls are more likely to binge eat or vomit as a way of dieting. Obese girls are twice as likely to become bulimic or anorexic as average weight girls. They also reported using diet pills and laxatives as a way to diet. According to Schvey, Puhl, & Brownell,

“Weight stigma is responsible for a range of negative psychological consequences for those who are targeted. Research demonstrates that individuals who have experienced weight based stigmatization have increased risk of depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, poor body image, sociality, and disordered eating”(  2009 ).

Researchers believe these habits are directly correlated with obesity stigmatization. Both overweight girls and boys reported overeating or binge eating when they were upset about being teased. Likewise, both boys and girls reported starving themselves as a weight loss method. Consequently, over eating or under eating are considered directly responses to obesity stigma.

There has been a reported link between low self-esteem and obesity.  In late 1995, a comprehensive review was conducted on 35 other studies that examined obesity and self-esteem. A decade later in early 2005 confirmed what researchers hypothesized years earlier. Both studies reported that obese children had lower levels of self-esteem than that of normal weight children.  As a result, researchers have concluded that obesity is often a factor in low self-esteem.  Likewise, those children who have low self-esteem are more likely to participate in unhealthy behaviors like smoking and drinking alcohol. Those children typically had lower self-perceptions of their physical appearance. Yet, there seems to be a difference in how body image is viewed due to race, ethnicity, and social status. According to Muennig

For instance, heavier women are more likely to have a negative body image than heavier men. Likewise, white race, young age, high income, and high educational attainment are all predictors of body dissatisfaction among overweight persons. Conversely, overweight African-Americans, Hispanics, young persons and men all tend to be more comfortable with their bodies when they are overweight or obese (2008).

This perpetuates the idea of the young girls and boys and their choices certain characteristics for various body types. Although the effects of stigmatization vary in extent across races, statistics support that the stigma adversely affects all individuals.

Interpersonal

Children who suffer from obesity may also lack interpersonal skills and relationships. One noted reason is that during this time, children are forming social relationship skills and learning how to solve problems. When children avoid social contact, they are hindering their development of these skills. When children are isolated and teased by peers their social skills are adversely affected. Several obese students reported that it was not out of the ordinary for them to go through an entire school day without uttering one word to any peers or teachers. Research conducted in an elementary school concluded that obese students are 40 percent more likely to be rejected by their peers than average weight students (Puhl & Heuer, 2009). The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health conducted a study of over 90,000 students aged 13-18 and found that obese children are more likely to be socially isolated from their peers and to have a best friend. Girls who were not obese were less likely than boys to friend non-obese children. For girls, when the BMI increased the number of friends decreased. Obese students were less likely to spend time with friends than their thinner counterparts. On the other hand, boys were more likely to spend time with friends regardless to BMI number. Again, females internalize their body images more than males. Developing interpersonal skills are the foundation for all other relationships a child may develop. When children are ashamed and embarrassed by the way the look, they are less likely to engage in social encountering that will build those skills. As a result, they become adults who lack problem solving and critical thinking skills needed to maintain any a healthy relationship of any form.

Obesity stigmatization also increases suicidal behaviors. Several studies have concluded that children who are obese are more likely to attempt suicide than non-obese children.  Obese girls were 1.8 times more likely to attempt suicide than average weight girls (Schvey, Puhl, & Brownell, 2011). The study determined that Caucasian students were more likely to attempt suicide than Black and Hispanic students. Past studies have reported little about variability of mental disorders among obese and overweight children. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children is in the forefront of psychologist studying the issues. Younger obese children had fewer mood disorders than did older cohorts(Schvey, et al). As a child ages and realizes that he/she is being treated differently because of the way he/she looks, coping can be a difficult task. Being stigmatized for being overweight is a great stressor for many victims. This constant stress can lead to anxiety issues, and those who suffer from anxiety are often eventually plagued by depression. Anxiety develops from the fear of being teased and taunted by other individuals. Later, the person becomes depressed about their fear of being teased. Essentially, the issues just snow balls from one component to the next. Nearly 90 percent of those who attempt suicide are suffering from depression (Schvey, et al). Also, students who attempt suicide are 67 percent more likely not to have friends or a social network. Without a close friend to confide in or talk about the issues they may be facing, or just not having a friend that can look beyond their physical appearance, students feel suicide is their only option.

Forms of Stigmatization

The comparison between similar forms of stigmatization have found that when a compared to other forms of racism, anti-fat attitudes are linked to ideological values. Youngsters are constantly reminded by media what a “normal” person should look like. The media is constantly bombarding children with visions of “skinny” or “fit” teens. They portray them as happy and fun, leading youngsters to believe that they must be skinny to be happy or have fun. For example, Schvey, Puhl, & Brownell said:

“Driving such discrimination and bias are the stereotypes that depict overweight individuals as sloppy, lazy, unmotivated, and less competent, and posit that overweight individuals are solely to blame for their weight status. The media is a particularly powerful source of both weight-based stereotypes and negative portrayals of obese individuals. In fact, overweight individuals remain among the last acceptable targets of derogatory humor in both television and film” (2011).

Yet, overweight people do not express a feeling of belonging when they with others who are overweight, nor are they amused when they are the punch line of popular jokes.  In 1998, Griffiths, Wolke, & Page studied children ages three to six years old. The children were shown various pictures. Each set of pictures displayed one overweight subject and one thin subject. However, all other features were similar. Each subject wore similar clothes, were similar heights, and had similar hairstyles. The children were read several stories and then asked to identify which subject was nice and which one was mean. Each child chose the overweight subject as the mean one and the thin one as being nice. This choice can be directly correlated with the media’s portrayal of “fat” people with unbecoming characteristics.

Health Consequences

Childhood obesity has been linked to many health consequences. Children who are overweight are more likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and orthopedic issues.  Data from a study conducted by Bogalusa Heart concluded that overweight children are more likely to suffer from atherosclerotic lesions and high blood pressure than normal weight children. Also, obese children academic performance is poorer than other students, usually due to absenteeism related directly associated with the illness. Overweight children are 75 percent likely to be overweight adults (Schvey, Puhl, & Brownell, 2011).  A longitudinal study was conducted to determine the prevalence of adolescence obesity that led to adulthood obesity. Shockingly, the researchers found that more 90 percent of obese children were still obese when in their early thirties. The study concluded that by the time an adolescent turned 20, their chances of being obese more than doubled for the likelihood of being obese at thirty (Schvey, Puhl, & Brownell, 2011).  With the findings of this study, it is safe to say that obese children are very likely to become obese adults. It seems as those stigmas somehow perpetuate in the lifestyles of the overweight victims.

Gender & Stigmatization

Gender seems to play a dominant role in obesity stigmatization. When comparing the impressions of boys and girls in relationship to being obese or overweight, it was found that they have varying views. It seems that boys and girls have different opinions about being thin, but agree upon being overweight. Girls seem to value physical appearance more, while boys will overlook physical appearance in lieu of physical ability. Girls and boys gave varying views of obesity when those who were deemed obese were able to complete physical tasks. Girls considered the subjects obese regardless, but boys wavered based upon the subject’s ability. However, they did find that those differences did not exist in younger children (Latner, O’Brien, Durso, & Brinkman, 2008). Both boys and girls ranging from ages two to five made similar decisions about weight. Yet, their perceptions of “fat” were stronger than older children ranging from aged six to ten years old.  This information correlates with research findings that females who are overweight suffer from depression more often than males. Girls internalize being overweight more than boys (  ).

Perpetuation of Stigmatization

In the early 1990s, the National Education Association reported that obese children and young adults faced ostracism and discrimination from preschool to college. In a survey completed, nearly 85 percent of overweight college students said that they had been bullied throughout their school lives about being “fat” ( Puhl & Brownell, 2011 ). Many occurrences of stigmatization occur in the school setting because this is where they spend the most of their time. Nevertheless, it is daunting to find out that some teachers are perpetuators of bias and discrimination. A great deal of research has been conducted on how teacher’s show bias towards their students. Educators must be more aware of the harm that they can cause. However, many are unaware of the biases they may be harboring towards obese students.

A study was conducted to examine the attitudes towards obese students. The study included 115 middle school students and teachers and reported that they believed obese individuals were unclean. Some teachers even reported that they believed that thin students were more likely to be successful than obese students. They also believed that obese students were more likely to come from families with domestic issues and suffer from other emotional problems themselves (Puhl & Brownell, 2001).   Nearly half of the teachers surveyed believed that childhood obesity was the result of a lack of compensation in the area of love and attention from parents. About 40 percent of those teachers reported feeling uneasy when they had obese students in their class. They same study revealed that more than 50 percent of the principals believed that students who were obese had a lack of self-control and various forms of psychological issues. Both teachers and principals agree that students who were obese were likely to be rejected by the peers. Finally, 25 percent of teachers and principals agreed that faculty would not be susceptible in implementing school-based programs that would help obese children with the issued they face in the school setting (Puhl & Huener, 2009). This data exemplifies how the stigma is perpetuated. Evidently, teachers do not feel this is a problem that requires immediate attention.

Teachers as Perpetuators

Feeling uncomfortable in a teacher’s classroom may lead to anxiety. It has been discovered that when students are aware of the perceptions of their teachers it can lead to adverse health effects.  A study was conducted on middle school students who reported that they were aware of their teacher’s negative perceptions. Some reported they had received negative comments in physical education classes. They felt upset about the remarks and choose to limit or eliminate participation.  These students reported being teased during physical education class while teachers stood by and did nothing. Although each child reported that his/her school had rules against bullying, they did not feel that staff enforced them (Griffiths, Wolke, Page, & Horwood, 2006). Yet, the rules were not adequately enforced. As a result, the victims loose opportunities for work towards getting healthier.

Parents as Perpetuators

Parents have reported in self-reporting studies that they show biases and perpetuate teasing of obese children. The study projected that parents express stigmatization too. In a sample of 476 children found that about 48 percent of overweight girls and 35 percent of boys reported being teased by family members (Laner, O’Brien, Durso, Brinkman, & MacDonald, 2008). This same study found that of 25000 mothers, nearly 45 percent were perpetuators of weight stigmatization, while only 33 percent of fathers were perpetuators of obese stigmatization. The findings in this study were conducted a second time with 225 male and female students who had the same BMI and age. The results were eerily similar. Researchers concluded that stigmatization by parents had some unexpected consequences. For example, overweight female college students tend to receive less financial assistance from parents than normal weight girls. This stigmatization by parents may stem from stigmas that society places on parents of obese children. Society believes that parents are somehow at fault for their children weight issues. Many of the parents of obese children reported that they have been blamed and criticized for their child’s obesity. As a result, parents expressed feeling frustrated and helpless to help their children reach a healthy weight. Nearly 80 percent of the parents surveyed reported seeking medical assistance for their overweight children. Almost 20 percent of those parents reported that their doctor had made them feel even worse about their child’s weight issues (Laner, O’Brien, Durso, Brinkman, & MacDonald, 2008).  So, again these children have been refused an opportunity to get healthier. They are being ostracized at school, at home, and by health care officials.

Another study was conducted that examined the relationship between 9 year old obese girls and their parents. They found that fathers who were educated and gained an income above the norm were more likely to perpetuate obesity stigmatization. Girls were more affected by the stigmatization if their parents valued thin body shapes and weight loss. However, parents who were overweight themselves were just as likely to perpetuate obesity stigmatization. About 60 percent of overweight mothers and 82 percent of overweight fathers were biases to their overweight children (Laner, O’Brien, Durso, Brinkman, & MacDonald, 2008).  Being teased by a parent can have a lifelong psychological affect on a child.

Conclusion

Society places great pressures on people, even the young, to look a certain way; thus, society perpetuates obesity stigmas. For most, that means staying thin to avoid the stigmatization that is placed upon those that are deemed overweight by societal norms. Feelings of shame, guilt, and rejection are a part of daily life for those who are overweight. This can be a very difficult situation for children who have not developed the coping mechanisms and critical thinking skills needed to adapt difficult situations. Teasing and taunting can have long lasting effects on self-esteem and self-image. Many who are overweight suffer from clinical depression. Now that it has been established that dealing with obesity stigmatization can have detrimental effects on children that can last a life time, parents, educators, and other stakeholders must do something to alleviate the problem. In to stop the perpetuation of obesity stigmatizations, adults must be aware of the biases they harbor and work to eliminate them. Children who are coping with obesity are already facing many physical and medical issues, but the perpetuation causes anxiety and other mental issues. The obesity stigmatization leads to mental illness issues because victims are left feeling lonely, isolated, and worthless because of their physical appearance.

References

Griffiths, L.J., Wolke, D., Page, A.S., & Horwood, J.P. (2006). Obesity and bullying: Different effects for boys and girls. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 91, 121-125.

Latner, J.D., O’Brien, K.S., Durso, L.E., Brinkman, L.A., & MacDonald, T. (2008). Weighing obesity stigma: the relative strength of different forms of bias. International Journal of Obesity, 32, 1145-1152.

Muennig, P (2008). The body politic: the relationship between stigma and obesity-associated disease. BMC Public Health, 8, 128.

Puhl, R. & Heuer, C. (2009). The stigma of obesity: A review and update. Obesity. 17, 941-64.

Puhl, R., & Brownell, K. D. (2001). Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obesity research, 9(12), 788-805.

Schvey, N., Puhl, R. & Brownell, K. (2011). The impact of weight stigma on caloric consumption. Obesity. 19, 1957-1962.