Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2018 Volume 146, Issue 3-4, Pages: 187-192
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH170529163S
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The stigma of obesity in adolescence
Stojadinović Aleksandra (Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Care of Children and Adolescents of Vojvodina, Novi Sad)
Lešović Snežana (Special hospital for diseases of thyroid gland and metabolic diseases „Zlatibor“, Zlatibor)
Nikolašević Željka (Faculty of Phylosophy, Department of Psychology, Novi Sad)
Bugarski-Ignjatović Vojislava (Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Faculty of Medicine, Neurology clinic, Novi Sad)
Introduction/Objective. Obese children and adolescents are exposed to stigma
and discrimination from peers, teachers and family which can lead to
numerous health problems, including psychosocial problems. The aim of this
study is to determine whether obese adolescents in Serbia are exposed to
stigmatization and which are the most common forms of stigmatization they
face. Methods. The study included 335 adolescents who were hospitalized for a
treatment of obesity. During hospitalization weight and height were
measured, and body mass index was calculated. Participants completed
independently Questionnaire about weightbased stigmatization made for the
purpose of this research. Questionnaire also included questions about sex,
age of respondents, and about obesity of other family members. Results.
Fifty-nine percent of participants experienced offence, 19% were teased,
47.5% were subject of a gossip, and 25% were excluded from peer group; 45%
reported that other people had prejudice against them. Male adolescents
significantly more often faced overt forms of stigmatization/discrimination
compared to female adolescents. Nineteen percent of participants were
stigmatized by health workers and 6% stated that their family is ashamed of
their obesity. Conclusion. A significant percent of obese adolescents is
exposed to a stigma due to their weight, most often to insults, gossip and
social exclusion. Obese adolescents are most often exposed to stigmatization
by peers, but there are a significant proportion of adolescents who are
exposed to stigma from health workers.
Keywords: adolescent, obese, obesity, stigma, body weight