Weight Stigma Affects Men Too, Reports The Obesity Society

Results showed approximately 40% of men reported experiencing weight

stigma. Men reporting weight stigma were younger, less likely to be

married, had higher BMIs, and were more likely to have tried to lose

weight in the past year relative to men not reporting weight stigma.

Also, verbal mistreatment was the most common form of weight stigma

which came from peers, family members, and strangers.

Lead author of the study Mary Himmelstein, PhD, said, "These data show

that men are experiencing similar rates of weight stigma relative to

women, which suggests it's important to understand and examine

potential gender differences in consequences of weight stigma."

Additionally, in an upcoming editorial published in Obesity, Rebecca

L. Pearl, PhD, and Thomas A. Wadden, PhD, examine Dr. Himmelstein's

study. "This finding challenges the notion that men are not affected

by weight stigma and rightfully highlights the need to include them

more fully in research on this problem," they said. Overall, more

research is needed in weight stigma in men.