Adolescents report weight as primary reason for bullying at school

[Paul Murphy]

Adolescents report weight as primary reason for bullying at school

By Megan Orciari

November 9, 2011

Adolescents report that being overweight is a primary reason that students are teased at school, according to a study from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. Published online in the Journal of School Health, the study is the first to examine adolescents’ observations of weight-based teasing at school and suggests that students view weight-based teasing to be even more common than teasing because of sexual orientation.

Researchers surveyed over 1500 high school students about their perceptions of teasing and bullying at school. Students were asked their views on how common weight-based bullying is compared to other forms of teasing at school, what types of weight-based teasing are most common, and how they typically react to observed teasing incidents.

Approximately 41 percent of students identified being overweight as the primary reason that students are bullied, followed by sexual orientation, intelligence and ability at school, race and ethnicity, physical disability, religion, and low socio-economic status. 

At least 84 percent of the students surveyed observed overweight students being called names, getting teased in a mean way, and teased during physical activity, such as gym class. Two thirds of the students observed their overweight and obese peers as being ignored, avoided, excluded from social activities, having negative rumors spread about them, and being teased in the cafeteria. The majority of students also observed verbal threats and physical harassment toward overweight and obese peers.

While the majority of students reported willingness to help an overweight peer who has been teased, approximately half of the students surveyed remained passive bystanders in these situations, leaving overweight students to cope with these experiences on their own.

The authors assert that these findings are cause for concern, and underscore the need for effective school-based interventions to protect overweight students.

“While many schools have anti-bullying policies in place, there is clearly a need for more awareness and education about weight-based teasing in the school setting, and increased vigilance from educators and school staff to protect these students,” said lead author Rebecca Puhl, director of research at the Yale Rudd Center. 

 

 

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[Paul Murphy]

"At least 84 percent of the students surveyed observed overweight students being called names, getting teased in a mean way, and teased during physical activity, such as gym class. Two thirds of the students observed their overweight and obese peers as being ignored, avoided, excluded from social activities, having negative rumors spread about them, and being teased in the cafeteria. The majority of students also observed verbal threats and physical harassment toward overweight and obese peers.

While the majority of students reported willingness to help an overweight peer who has been teased, approximately half of the students surveyed remained passive bystanders in these situations, leaving overweight students to cope with these experiences on their own."

     

[Paul Murphy]

  Why are so many funded programs locked into physical activity?

[Paul Murphy]

Stop picking on obese people

 

Comments

Stop picking on obese people

 

Biggest Loser is a popular TV show, but doesn’t treat obese people with much respect, writes Linda Bezooyen.

November 18, 2011

I am sick and tired of being discriminated against, and people need to know some of the fat “facts.”

Regarding Patrick Crawford’s letter to the editor, Nov. 15, “We need a tax on fat people”:

This letter promotes hatred, discrimination and a serious ignorance of the problems of obesity. I am disappointed that it even got published. Mr. Crawford and many other people who discriminate against obese people need a bit of an education. No one is “perfect.”

As an obese person myself, I have suffered with this problem my whole life. I have been passed over for jobs, even though I have more than sufficient education and experience. I have had to endure people talking rudely about me behind my back. I’ve had people yell taunts at me; call me a whale; throw things at me; stare at me wide-eyed; whisper, laugh, look me up and down with blatant disgust, and the list goes on. 

This is not a choice I have made. It is not just simply eating healthy food and exercising. Unfortunately, most shows portray obese people as slovenly slobs who stuff their faces all day; and even the Biggest Loser and other weight loss shows treat obese people with little respect. 

Yes, you are right. Obesity is a problem. But, make no mistake; obesity has been around for time immemorial. It isn’t fair to just target obese people and say that their weight gain is their own fault. There are millions of fatty fast food choices. Foods are being modified all the time and food producers package their foods with labels that give the impression that the item is “healthy” or “low fat” or “light” and so on.

Don’t just blame obese people for raising the cost of healthcare for everyone. Sure, if you want to tax high fat foods like taxing cigarettes or alcohol, go ahead and do that.  That will be a choice. And everyone who chooses to buy them will have to pay the price, not just obese people. 

I live with this every day. I am educated, smart, compassionate and painfully aware of the space that I take up. I do “pull my weight in society.” And at least I am not intolerant, which is a dangerously more serious offense in society than being obese is. Stop the discrimination and stop judging.

LINDA BEZOOYEN