Study: Fat-shaming children leads to long-term risk of obesity

Children and teenagers who are ridiculed about their weight end up gaining more weight in the long run than youngsters who aren’t teased, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health.

The study was conducted by researchers with the Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md., the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It was published recently in the journal Pediatric Obesity.

Childhood and youth overweight and obesity are at epidemic proportions in the United States and are associated with numerous health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and orthopedic complications. In addition, weightbased teasing is one of the most common reasons for bullying cited among youngsters in the U.S. According to previous research, 90% of high school students have witnessed their peers made fun of for their weight, and 60% of overweight youngsters have reported being teased about their weight by peers and family members. Teachers, coaches and healthcare providers have also been found to engage in fat shaming, as well.

However, few longitudinal studies have assessed the impact of weight stigma on weight gain and body composition, and those that did tended to focus on adults. But, the researchers noted, children who are overweight or obese are at risk of becoming adults with excess weight.

The study involved 110 youths who were an average age of 11.8 years when they were enrolled. The participants were either overweight, with a body mass index at or above the 85th percentile, or were considered at risk for excess weight.