2304 Hurstbourne Village Dr, Suite 500, Louisville, KY 40299     (502) 583-3191     (502) 581-1463 fax

www.louisvillecenterforweightloss.com web lcwl@louisvillecenterforweightloss.com email

 

 Attitudes toward Obesity

 

 

• Society has a negative view of the obese. This is true even of physicians.  In one study more than half of physicians described their obese patients as “weak-willed, ugly, awkward, lazy, and having a lack of willpower. Most patients stated they had been treated disrespectfully by the medical profession

 

• In a study at Michigan State University students indicated that they would rather marry a cocaine user, shoplifter, or communist over an obese person

 

• Contrary to common belief, studies have shown that the obese actually eat LESS than people of normal weight

 

• The obese are discriminated against in all areas of life. They are less likely to get jobs, into a college, or housing. In one study obese renters were told that no units were available when normal weight renters were told that units were available.

 

• The obese are discriminated against in dating, more by men than women. 80% of men said they would not regularly date an obese woman

 

• In one study, the main reason given by the subjects for why obese people were considered unattractive is that obesity was considered to be a persons choice

 

• Many obese people have bad images of themselves and negative feelings about themselves