Obesity Stigma

September’s MUSC Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Support group had the wonderful founder of OCEANS Lifestyles, Faith Newsome, as the guest speaker. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, so it was great to hear from Faith about her organization. OCEANS Lifestyles is a group that provides support for teens undergoing bariatric surgery. Faith, founder and president of OCEANS, underwent gastric bypass when she was 16, and recognizes that the journey towards weight loss whilst combating stigma and judgment after surgery extends beyond adolescence.

A common trend that was brought up during Faith’s presentation was her battle with childhood obesity stigma. Due to children and teens expressing themselves in a more unfiltered manner, obesity stigma among children can be in the form of bullying and teasing. Although parents, educators, and healthcare providers could have the best interest in promoting a healthier lifestyle, they may also struggle to navigate the difficult conversations about weight and health. Research has found that adults expressing their concerns over a child’s weight can be interpreted as weight-based victimization. Long-term effects of children who have experienced bullying or weight victimization from a parent will be more likely to face emotional trauma lasting into adulthood.

Outcomes of weight-based bullying or victimization can cause long-term effects on adolescents into adulthood. Emotional trauma can cause a domino effect to other negative outcomes such as low self-esteem, poor body image, and depression. At a young age children are more aware of their weight, and if they look different from their peers. This has been found to negatively impact their ability to make new relationships with their classmates. So, let’s take a moment to learn how we can work together to overcome the stigma.

Overcoming the Stigma

What parents can do to help their children:

Having conversations revolving around weight with children can be hard, but there are many things parents can do to address obesity without it being hurtful or creating stigma. It depends on the relationship you have with your child. The best way is to approach the situation and let the child take control of the conversation and talk about what they want to. Put the conversation in their hands so they aren’t feeling talked down to or defensive. It is so important to talk about health with your child instead of size. Be a good role model for your child as well, be open about your own struggles, and take part in their health journey. For specific examples about what to say, and what not to say, learn more from the Obesity Action Coalition.

Shifting the Mindset:

It is important to understand that obesity is a chronic health condition, and not an identity. Obesity is something that is often a lifelong struggle. A lot of children feel outcasted or misjudged by their peers because they are living in a larger body. They feel like they are being identified based off of their appearance instead of who they really are. Exercise and healthy eating should not be viewed as a punishment, but part of self-care to give our body nourishment and support. Shifting your mindset is so crucial, so that you can help your children to understand the benefits of these types of changes. Especially with children, it’s easy to fall into the negative mindset that things are not “fair” if they feel like they are being singled out in terms of diet and exercise. Making these smarter food decisions as a family, and encouraging family-friendly exercise helps them to feel less alone. Remember, you are your child’s best role model!

About the Authors: Kiersten, Lauren and Mackensie are dietetic interns with the MUSC Dietetic Internship. They will be spending the next year with MUSC dietitians in preparation for starting their own nutrition careers in 2022.