Weight Stigma Is A Burden Around The World

 

Many people living in higher-weight bodies have experienced stigma and discrimination. One manifestation of this is weight-based bullying. Weight based bullying doesn't just happen among youth, sometimes adults contribute to this problem. For example athletic coaches or health counselors may make weight related comments to or about youth in front their peers. This body shaming may be experienced as bullying.

The important thing to remember is that bullying, not a person's body size or appearance is the problem. Focusing on changing someone's body should never be considered the solution to bullying behavior.

Here are some dos and don't s for adults and youth when it comes to weight based bullying. 

Do

• Call out bullying when you see it.
• Emphasize that nobody deserves to be teases.
• Recognize the behavior, not someone's size as the problem.
• Stand up for others who may be targeted because of their bodies.
• Stay in a group - friends can intervene and help make the bullying stop.
• Report adults who call out a child's size with negative comments.

Don'ts

• Joke about size, weight or clothing - someone else's or your own. 
• Talk about people's food choices or what they are eating.
• Degrade your own body or food choices with others.
• Don't focus on celebrity appearances, remember photos in magazines and on social media are always almost photos hoped.