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Weight is not an indicator of someone’s health or worth. But kids and adults alike are often shamed if they have larger bodies. The shame itself could harm them, science now shows.
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To accompany “Weight shaming is literally sickening”
1. People often shame others who are larger in size. What effects do you think that has on the person being shamed for their weight?
2. What is a stigma? Why do we sometimes judge people for being large-sized?
1. What types of messages do we get from society that larger bodies are not okay?
2. If someone has a heavier-size body, does that mean they must be unhealthy?
3. What types of effects does it have on girls when they are labeled as “too fat” at a young age? Does this happen with boys too? Find support for your answer from the story.
4. At what age do people start to learn that fat equals “bad”? Name some ways that people learn this.
5. What is “social comparison”? How can social-media sites make such social comparisons worse?
6. What were the findings of long-term effects from a study of teens who were teased about their weight at home?
7. Where does most weight-based bullying happen? What role do teachers sometimes play in this type of bias?
8. Studies have shown there are effective ways to lessen the amount of weight-based bullying seen in schools. Name two things that can help.
9. How can social media be used as a positive support for people experiencing weight stigma?
10. In what way has bias toward heavier people changed in recent years?
1. What term should you use to describe people with larger bodies in a way that would not suggest shame, bias or disrespect?
2. How do you weight stigma different, if at all, from other stigmas, such as race or gender?
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