Obesity is ‘not simply down to an individual’s lack of willpower’, says new research, suggesting that all that fat-shaming really won’t do anyone any good.
A new report from the British Psychological Society argues that people become overweight or obese not due to a personal failing or bad decision-making, but because of a complex combination of factors, including genetics, sedentary lifestyles, responses to stress and trauma from childhood, and a lack of healthy food choices being available.
The experts behind the study say we need to change the way obesity is viewed and spoken about, such as referring to ‘people with obesity’ or ‘people living with obesity’ rather than ‘obese people’.
The report says: ‘Obesity is not simply down to an individual’s lack of willpower.
‘The people who are most likely to be an unhealthy weight are those who have a high genetic risk of developing obesity and whose lives are also shaped by work, school and social environments that promote overeating and inactivity.
‘People who live in deprived areas often experience high levels of stress, including major life challenges and trauma, often their neighbourhoods offer few opportunities and incentives for physical activity and options for accessing affordable healthy food are limited.
‘Psychological experiences also play a big role – up to half of adults attending specialist obesity services have experienced childhood adversity.
‘Whilst obesity is caused by behaviour, those behaviours do not always involve ‘choice’ or ‘personal responsibility’.’
So all those fat-shaming people who claim people who are obese are just ‘lazy’ are overlooking the real causes of weight gain, and are unlikely to be helping.
The report said that we need to address obesity not by placing blame on individuals, but by changing the ‘environment in which people find it easier not to become obese in the first place.’
Dr Angel Chater, one of the authors of the report, said: ‘Adult obesity levels in England increased by 18% between 2005 and 2017, and there were similar increases in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
‘This cannot be explained by a sudden loss of motivation across the four nations of the UK.
‘The increase in obesity can in part be attributed to changes in the food supply and physical activity environment.
‘To address obesity, we need an understanding of all its causes, biological, psychological and social, and use approaches to behaviour change for prevention and weight management that are informed by psychology.’
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