Overweight stigma - Weight Loss Message Board

DonutsNCoffee · 10-24-2003, 08:34 AM

I read an article about a recent study that showed just being next to someone who's overweight reflected negatively on a person. I was having lunch with a coworker one time. She just happened to have a weight problem and I was a lot thinner than I am now. When we walked into the restaurant, the host gave me a look. It was almost as if he was judging me for being with her. The idea that you could be judged for the company you keep is nothing new, but this was quite a surprise to me. Has anyone else experienced this?

Dietprincess · 10-24-2003, 08:58 AM

yes! (btw, donuts...so good to see you! why dont you come back to the tg challenge...we miss you! we need a guy in there! lol!!!

ANYWHO, i had a friend that i worked with who i just loved. and she was very overweight (probably about 200 lbs overweight).....We (and even just I) ALWAYS got looks when we went out to eat. it was horrible. and she always noticed. it was as if they were afraid she was going to eat them out of food. Its just sick really!!!!

Froggie98 · 10-24-2003, 09:00 AM

I have not experienced this, but my sister (a psych major in college) recently did a study on attractiveness and how it affects perception (both of self and other) and behavior. She is still working on compiling data, but her initial findings indicate a trend towards your experience.

When I was overweight, I looked bigger (because I was!) than my husband. He is a little guy (5'8", maybe 150 pounds). I am only 3 inches shorter and used to weigh 155. I used to feel like people looked at us as though we were oddly paired. No one ever actally said anything, but I know what people were thinking.

I think it would be interesting to do some research on this topic (if I had time!).

------------------
SW 156
CW 125
Goal = MAINTAIN
5'5" Female, 27 yrs. old

Whirl · 10-24-2003, 11:03 AM

I too have lunch with a friend, in fact last week, and she is extremely overweight - about 250 and about 5' 1 or 2". I look like a mini skinny next to her and we do get stares. The very minute we walk into any door of a restaurant there are always lots of stairs. The worst place is a greasy spoon she LOVES....and its like they are thinking, why is she here, this is why she is so large anyway and she keeps coming back for more.

Yes, it is unfortunate, that people do stare and they do judge you by the company you keep....even at lunchtime.

Donuts...we miss you on the challenges ... please come join us again!

DonutsNCoffee · 10-24-2003, 11:15 AM

Little guy? Hey I'm 5'8" and 150 pounds.

I was about 140 when the incident above happened. I'd say my coworker was close to 200 (though I obviously never asked) and around 5'7". We probably came off as an odd pair. Maybe the restaurant host thought we were a couple. But you bring up a good point. Society expects you to be in the company of people who are similar to you. If there's too much of a contrast, it gets attention. It could be a contrast in weight, age, race, or attractiveness.

Dietprincess, I haven't been on the Thanksgiving challenge cause I have nothing to contribute. I'm not losing weight or inches and seem to be stuck in neutral. Between diet, cardio, and weight lifting, the only thing I seem to be doing with any consistency is weight lifting but my eating habits probably cancel out the benefits.