Stigma perceived by overweight women

Abstract

Objective: to understand the experience of discrimination perceived by overweight women. Methods: a qualitative research conducted at an outpatient clinic in Salvador, Bahia, where eleven women were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and submitted to thematic content analysis. Results: the analysis of the statements expressed three categories: Suffering discrimination in different social contexts: denounced disrespect, hostility, veiled and/or explicit exclusion, prejudice, injustice and insults lived in public transport, at work, in the family environment, in social events and commercial establishments; Experiencing negative feelings about discrimination: revealed inferiority, sadness, shame, fear, anger, frustration, low esteem and discouragement faced by women; Reacting to discrimination: expressed isolation of marital intimacy and social encounters, removal from work, concealment of body and feelings and even illness of women. Final considerations: the discrimination experienced in various settings has caused suffering, embarrassment, negative feelings, shame, isolation and loss in women’s lives.

Autopercepção de saúde de mulheres com excesso de peso

“…Mesmo sem diferença estatisticamente significante e não representar a maioria das participantes, sofrer discriminação pode envolver sentimentos negativos tais como, medo, raiva, tristeza, vergonha, frustração, baixa autoestima e desânimo, o que pode levá-las ao sofrimento, instabilidade emocional, a ansiedade e até depressão (Palmeira, Santos, Mussi & Silva, 2020), condições estas que pode interferir na forma como as pessoas percebem sua saúde e realizam práticas de autocuidado.…”

Quality of life and eating habits of patients with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Discrimination against people with obesity causes absenteeism and dismissal from work, reinforcing social isolation behaviors and aggravating the mental health of workers with obesity ( 27 ) . With the pandemic, the distance work modality became necessary to prevent the transmission of the virus, however, it created other factors that can compromise the quality of life of these patients: feeling of isolation and sedentarism ( 28 ) .…”

“…Stigma acts as an important factor, presenting itself in the form of verbal and physical violence against these individuals ( 32 ) . People with obesity, especially women, perceive this discrimination and, as a consequence, present feelings of inferiority, embarrassment, sadness, frustration and low self-esteem, which have everlasting repercussions ( 28 ) . In the pandemic context, complications of psychiatric illnesses are described, in which the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were aggravated in individuals with chronic diseases ( 33 ) .…”