Gesundheitswesen 2011; 73 - A245
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1283632

Attitudes towards and Perception of Overweight and Obesity in the Public Opinion: a systematic review

C Sikorski 1, C Riedel 2, M Kaiser 3, B Pantenburg 2, H Glaesmer 3, G Schomerus 4, E Brähler 3, SG Riedel-Heller 5
  • 1Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB AdiposityDiseases; Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Public Health Research Unit, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  • 2Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Public Health Research Unit, University of Leipzig,, Leipzig, Germany
  • 3Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig,, Leipzig, Germany
  • 4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
  • 5Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig,, Leipzig, Germany

Background/Objectives: Up to this date, the obesity pandemic has yet to be confined. While weight reduction programmes based on individual behavior only yield a long term achievable weight loss of 10%, still leaving individuals obese, the role of interventions aiding to avoid negative consequences of overweight has grown. One major cause of negative consequences regarding individual (eating behavior, psychiatric comorbidity) and public health (prevention efforts etc.) dimensions is the perceived stigmatization and discrimination by their social surroundings. This review summarizes population-based studies reporting on weight stigma in the general public. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted reviewing research studies without a time span restriction available on the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, PSYNDEXplus, Cochrane Library. Results: Only six studies (conducted in the USA and Germany) presented results of population-based analyses. Obesity is regarded a major health problem as a result of all studies; however, there are still vast misconceptions of the etiology of obesity. Obesity is still regarded to be highly under internal control of the individual while genetic and environmental factors are seen subordinate. Discussion/Conclusions: Findings contradict recent findings regarding the etiology of obesity. Aside from the significant role of genetic and biological factors, social and economic variables have to be considered. As for options of actively dealing with stigmatizing attitudes, prevention programs with information campaigns might have a high potential in increasing the awareness on the topic. Intervention approaches can encompass methods to reduce weight stigma in the general public as well as in specific populations but also interventions to inoculate obese individuals to minimize negative consequences of stigmatization.

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