People used to discriminate against race. It still happens, but the issue has been addressed. People used to discriminate against gays. It still happens, but the issue has been addressed. People used to discriminate against different religions. It still happens, but the issue has been addressed. People used to discriminate against women. It still happens, but the issue has been addressed.
What about issues that have not been addressed?
According to the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) site (naafaonline.com), from 1995-1996 weight discrimination of United States adults was reported at seven percent, and nearly doubled by 2006 to twelve percent.
Society in America has become ‘obesogenic’, which, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is due to an environment that promotes increased food intake, physical inactivity, and non healthful foods.
The truth is that more discrimination happens than anyone would think against overweight people.
“Weight can be one part of a whole scenario of self-doubt”, said school psychologist, Anita Nielsen.
People don’t realize that when people are discriminating against overweight people, it can be just as harming as discriminating against another race. For some people, weight is not in their control.
According to Nielsen, people are more tolerant of weight discrimination because they feel that the weight is something the person can fix.
“Everyone does it,” said Nielsen, “Subconsciously.”
And it’s true. Have you ever given someone that whole body look? Have you ever felt a little unpleasant when you see someone wearing too short of shorts for their figure? Have you ever obsessed over the gorgeous body of a celebrity?
Awareness was Nielsen’s number one way to stop discrimination.
Being more open is truly something a lot of people should do, and not just with people’s sizes, because it doesn’t matter if someone wears the same pant size as you, or likes the same music, what matters is their personality.