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It is over there, next to that fat lady

A Qualitative Study of Fat Women's Own Body Perceptions and Weight-Related Discriminations

Bibliographic Data

ID3083327
AuthorsMariana Dimitrov Ulian (0000-0001-7861-8597, Universidade de São Paulo), Priscila De Morais Sato (0000-0001-9850-6859, Universidade de São Paulo), Ana Jéssica Pinto (0000-0002-1363-7233, Universidade de São Paulo), Fabiana B Benatti (0000-0002-8320-7044, Universidade de São Paulo), Patricia Lopes De Campos-Ferraz (0000-0003-0342-7790, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)), Desire Coelho (0000-0001-5014-7762, Universidade de São Paulo), Odilon Jose Robles (0000-0003-1579-0116, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)), Fernanda Sabatini (0000-0002-3037-4447, Universidade de São Paulo), Isabel Pérez (0000-0001-8992-5787, Universidade de São Paulo), Luiz Aburad (0000-0002-1392-4339, Universidade de São Paulo), André Vessoni (0000-0001-6027-6613, Universidade de São Paulo), Ramiro Andrés Fernandez Unsain (0000-0003-3142-0561, Universidade Federal de São Paulo), Bruno Gualano (0000-0001-7100-8681, Universidade de São Paulo), F B Scagliusi (0000-0001-7590-4563, Universidade de São Paulo)
Year2020
Volume29
Issue4
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSaúde e Sociedade (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0104-1290 • E-ISSN: 1984-0470
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/s0104-12902020180313
OpenAlexW3106836798
SCIELO_PIDS0104-12902020000400307
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited36

We investigated fat women's perceptions of their own bodies and their experiences with weight-related discriminations, and how these situations affected their well-being. Thirty-nine obese women were interviewed, and three axes of analysis were identified: (1) repercussions of being fat, (2) living with a fat body, and (3) am I a person or just a fat body? These axes were composed of eight themes which had similar meaning or complemented each other. The results showed our participants had mechanisms to diminish the magnitude of their stigmatized bodies (e.g., attempting to lose weight and changing their current food choices). Participants also reported being fat had physical and psychological consequences for them. Most notably, their larger bodies influenced their self-evaluation, making them feel devalued, unlovable, incapable, and incomplete. They reported stigmatizing experiences in familiar situations, at the workplace and in public spaces, and reported being stigmatized by both close and unknown individuals, including healthcare professionals. These professionals were reported to treat patients disrespectfully, which urges attention to health care inequalities for obese people. Our results stress stigmatizing attitudes towards fat people and their own considerations about themselves have negative consequences in their physical and mental well-being

Developmental psychology · Meaning (existential) · Perception · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Diversity and Impact of Dance · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works6
Citations per year1
Citation span2020 - 2025 (6)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 4
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