globalization of fat stigma

In many parts of the world being overweight or even obese is considered to be a good thing. At Ukmedix News we have written about how certain nations many of them in Africa such as Mauritania greatly prize obese women, but these regional perceptions and fashions are facing an onslaught from American culture which stigmatises obesity negatively.

The one nation which has the biggest obesity problem worldwide seems to be exporting the idea through its Hollywood movies and advertising that being obese signifies stupidity and laziness and that being almost unnaturally skinny is the norm and ideal.  In countries like Tonga, the wealthiest and most eligible men would previously have chosen a nice plump lady to be their bride but the Americanisation of what is beautiful and what is not has put overweight women at a big disadvantage.

In a recent research project done by Arizona State University cultural attitudes to body weight in ten different nations were looked at.  The researchers interviewed participants in American Samoa, Paraguay, Tanzania, Mexico, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Argentina, Iceland, London and closer to home two different places in Arizona.

By using questionnaires to evaluate a range of different statements such as 'A big woman is a beautiful woman', or 'People are overweight because they are lazy', they managed to form a picture about what was an acceptable body weight and body image to have.

Ms. Alexandra Brewis, from the University of Arizona's School of Human Evolution and Social Change who led the study said that they were expecting and did find high levels of obesity stigma in developed nations like United States, the UK and New Zealand and also in the traditionally body conscious Argentina. However what they did find very surprising was the negative perception to being overweight in many countries which had traditionally previously celebrated being overweight.  She described this phenomenon as the 'globalization of fat stigma.'

Health campaigns run by various governments in developing nations have also promoted obesity as a disease and as something which should be avoided which has changed local attitudes to obesity.

The clinical evidence is out there that being overweight or obese is just not good for you and can lead to serious health complications but the same time the idea that people who have a weight problem are lazy or stupid is just not true.