According to the expert in communication and health and UIC Barcelona Faculty of Communication Sciences lecturer, “messages that appeal to guilt and fear tend to generate rejection, demoralisation and further isolation.” This notion is underpinned by a study on 95 weight loss apps and their persuasive discourse, published in the academic journal Sociology Compass. According to the findings of the analysis, weight loss applications reinforce a lack of body diversity in their images and equate excess weight to personal failure.
In the words of psychologist and UIC Barcelona Department of Psychology lecturer Marina Santamaría, “the constant and often implicit and reiterated messages of guilt erode self-esteem and fuel a conflictive relationship between the person and their body.” She goes on to indicate that “the stigma associated with fat shaming has a profound impact on people’s mental health.”
As an expert in communication and health, Lara Martín shifts the focus to the importance of language. “When we talk about weight in terms of individual responsibility, we strengthen this notion that individuals who are overweight or obese are to blame for the causes, consequences and treatment of their condition. This way of framing the problem heightens the sense of moral culpability and renders social and structural factors invisible,” she argues.
Another study by the UIC Barcelona researcher published in the Journal of Gender Studies analysed 30 testimonies from users who shared their experiences in an online community. “Sharing experiences generates emotional resources to address fat shaming and builds a sense of community and belonging, creating an alternative means of resistance,” assures the lecturer.
From a clinical perspective, Marina Santamaría explains that “the pressure stemming from nonconformity to body ideals can lead to maladaptive behaviour such as excessive dieting, restrictive eating or social isolation.” The psychologist also adds that a rise in cases linked to body culture has been seen in recent years. “The stigma surrounding fat shaming has a profound effect on people’s emotions and relations, shaping how they relate to others and their position in the world,” she concludes. ersones, i condiciona la manera com es vinculen i projecten al món”, conclou.
