Prejudice and Obesity



It's a sad comment on human nature that prejudice and obesity go hand in hand. Ask any person who has battled with obesity and they'll be able to reel off a list of examples.

It begins at school, where some children have a knack of singling out anyone who's different from the rest for bullying and taunting. Children who are more overweight than their classmates are easy targets. If they also happen to be of a different ethnic background from the majority of their classmates, their lives can become especially unpleasant.

Sadly, this attitude does not end when the child leaves school. Research has shown that prejudice and obesity is very much a fact of life in the workplace.

The Sad Story of Mr X

In a society obsessed with unrealistic ideals of how we should look, overweight job applicants have an especially tough time breaking into the job market. A typical story of prejudice towards overweight people in the workplace goes like this...

Mr X applies in writing for a job. The company replies positively to his letter by asking for a more detailed resume. Then, Mr X receives an enthusiastic phone call asking him to come in for an interview. It's clear from the tone of the call and various other hints dropped by the caller that the interview is really just a formality, that Mr X is clearly the best qualified candidate.

But all this changes come the day of the interview. The members of the interview panel refuse to meet Mr X's eye. The questions they ask are cursory. They shuffle and fidget when he speaks. It's obvious they're simply going through the motions.

When he leaves they shake his hand and thank him with enthusiasm bordering on relief. A week later he receives a form letter in the mail regretfully informing him that he was unsuccessful in his application.

Mr X is not surprised. He's gone through this charade a dozen times before.
Prejudice and obesity have an even more unpleasant face when they're paired with ethnic stereotypes - the grown up version of schoolyard taunts.

We've all heard the jokes about women of certain ethnic backgrounds ballooning after they've had children. They're mild compared to some of the supposedly funny stories doing the rounds.

Tell Your Story?

We'd like you to help us lift a lid on the scourge of obesity related prejudice. Were you bullied as a child because you were overweight? Have you experienced prejudice in the workplace? Have you been the butt of an ethnic/obesity related joke? Or perhaps you've got an inspiring story about how you've overcome negative perceptions.
Whatever your story, we'd love to hear it...

Other Visitors' Stories

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

My Obese Husband Died on the Way to Hospital 
Did you know that ambulances do not have the necessary tools to work on an obese person. I know, from tragic personal experience. My husband, an obese …

FAT, FAT, FAT 
I am 18 years old, 5"2, and weigh 300 lbs. I go to ECHS everyday and I am very embarrased by the kids that pick on me and push me around. Sometimes it's …

Prejudice or Natural instinctive selection? 
This is a story of Chickens. We had about a Dozen normal chickens we were raising. Reds, and Aricondas chickens which got along together perfectly. …

Good enough on paper anyway! 
This about my beautiful wife. Her and I are both overweight. I have worked very hard my whole life and tried to take care of my family to the best of …

Ignorance.  
When I was 17 I finally landed myself a job. I had been eager to work and make my own money since I was 14 so I was NOT lazy. I am 330 lbs and have not …

Don't EVER have any of these things wrong with you..... 
When I was at school, I was knocked about in the playground by other kids for committing not one, but THREE cardinal sins- I was clever(strike one), …

I chose not... 
To be a lazy fat ass. This article is even more disgusting in that it attempts to equate the prejudice of obesity (which happens by choice) with that of …

Healthcare giant passes buck on broken shower bench accident! 
My name is Izaiah Martinez and I am a 38-year-old, 390lb "Blatino" (Dark skined-Latin male) standing at around 5 feet 9 inches. I recently was hospitalize …

Obesity and Care Not rated yet
Actually obesity happens when you didn't aware about it's causes and symptoms but exact true is it's happen most of time to your pets and that is your …

Click here to write your own.


Top of Prejudice and Obesity Page





Subscribe to the ObesityCures Insider newsletter and get the latest weight loss and diet news delivered to your inbox

Enter your E-mail Address
Enter your First Name (optional)
Then

Don't worry — your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Obesity Cures Insider.