Weight Loss and Fitness Expo

Biography

Biography: Adarsh K Gupta

Abstract

Negative attitudes toward obese persons are pervasive in North American society. Numerous studies have documented harmful weight based stereotypes that overweight and obese individuals are lazy, weak-willed, unsuccessful, unintelligent, lack self-discipline, have poor willpower, and are noncompliant with weight-loss treatment. These stereotypes give way to stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against obese persons in multiple domains of living, including the workplace and health care facilities. Weight bias can take multiple forms in health care settings, and can exist in both subtle and overt ways, e.g. provider attitudes, medical equipment limitations, weighing procedures and office environment. Weight bias leads to negative psychological, social, economic, and physical health consequences for obese individuals, and can also have an impact on health care utilization. To optimize obesity prevention and intervention efforts, these assumptions must be addressed within the sphere of public health, with recognition of the harmful impact of weight stigma on quality of life and the need to eliminate stigma from current and future public health approaches to the obesity epidemic