Weight Stigma

OurDoncaster Talks survey about weight and health asked residents about experiences of weight stigma. Here is what we learnt:

You can read the full highlights of our Doncaster Talks consultation here: www.doncastertalks.com/survey-results

Since 2015, Doncaster Council has conducted the Pupil Lifestyle Survey, which has provided data on children and young people’s health behaviours, through an anonymous school-based questionnaire. The survey covers a broad range of topics, including some questions which provide insight for the Compassionate Approach.

• Primary pupils: Physical attributes are most often the target of bullying, with 29% of primary pupils saying they were bullied because of the way they looked and a further 25% because of their size or weight. However, this has decreased slightly since last year.
• The way you look is something that young people worry about. 20% of primary pupils worry about how they look. Girls worry about the way they look more than any other group (27%).
• Secondary pupils: the way you look is the thing that secondary school pupils worry most about,  with 36% of secondary pupils worrying about how they look.
• Over half (51%) of secondary pupils who say they have been picked on or bullied, say it was because of the way they look and a further 36% say it was because of their size or weight. This suggests physical appearance is by far and remains the biggest ‘target’ for bullying.
• For the second year running,  ‘The way you look’ has overtaken exams and tests as the no.1 thing secondary pupils worry about. Girls worry much more than boys about the way they look (51% v. 21%)

You can see the full results for the 2022/2023 Pupil Lifestyle Survey here: www.healthylearningdoncaster.co.uk/pupil-lifestyle-survey

 

The following case study is an example of the lived experience of weight stigma from a Doncaster resident.

Can you describe your experiences using health care services as a person living with obesity?

Weight stigma in Health & Wellbeing settings is something that’s happened many times over the years – for example, seeking help for a cough and it seemingly being blamed on weight. Two experiences particularly come to mind.

After an emergency C-section with my little girl, I attended hospital due to a problem with my cut. I explained the issues and was told “Well, you are rather large”. It felt like I was being blamed for the problems, and that miraculously losing 6 stone overnight would cure the problem (it wouldn’t - and this would also be impossible to achieve!).

The worst experience I ever had… I’ve struggled with my weight all my adult life. I’d describe myself as a yo-yo dieter, forever putting on weight, going on a diet, losing weight, then putting it back on and more. After the birth of my daughter, I knew I had to make a change. I was watching what I ate, I’d got a friend to go to the gym with. We were going to the gym, doing circuits, classes, swimming… You name it, we did it, and at least 4 times a week. After a year of gym membership, and dieting, I’d lost the grand total of…………… 1lb. At this point, I knew I needed more help. I needed to know if there was something underlying, surely there was something, how can you do all that work and lose 1lb? I plucked up the courage to ask for help, or for a referral to someone who could. I poured my heart out at the appointment. I explained what I’d been doing – my dietary habits and exercise routine. One sentence crushed me. I was told, “Well. You’re obviously not doing enough, are you?” They continued, “It’s simple, you’re putting to many calories in from what you’re burning, you need to reduce your intake.” That was that. End of appointment. No help offered.

I felt absolutely devastated. That might sound dramatic, but 12 months of work – being proud of what I had achieved in terms of fitness, if not weight loss, felt totally pointless; what had I wasted the last 12 months doing? What was the point? I cancelled my gym membership, stopped bothering about what I ate. If no-one else cared, why should I? I cried for hours, and then got angry, at the world, the health professional, and myself. It took months for me to get over it and book an appointment, specifically to see a different health professional.

If the healthcare professional had a better understanding of the complexities of weight, I would have had a better experience. It is NOT just as simple as Calories in vs Calories out – there are so many other factors involved. Underlying health issues, mental health issues, environment, income – this all has an impact. Also, if I had received an offer of help, even just “let’s do some bloods to rule basic things out”, I would have had a better experience.

I actually returned to the service a few months later – I saw a different health professional, and the difference in approach was night and day. I was listened to, not made to feel like it was entirely my fault. We ruled out underlying issues, and I was then referred for further help. I’ve now lost 8 stone. Almost half my body weight.

Learning about Doncaster’s Compassionate Approach to weight has changed my perspective on my experiences. I now understand that it wasn’t me that was the problem, it was the health professional who was at fault in their approach, through a lack of understanding and compassion for people who are overweight.

A more compassionate approach to weight would absolutely improve patient experience in the future. A greater understanding of the complexities of weight and a compassionate approach to the condition (it is a condition) will hopefully mean more people who want help will seek it and will not feel the weight of the stigma associated. More people will be empowered to take control of their health with help from professionals, families and friends, and will be supported to start taking action.