Calling young girls “fat” can lead to obesity when they are adults

Girls who are told that they are too fat at the age of 10 by a parent, sibling, friend, classmate or teacher are more likely to be obese at age 19.

According to a new study, the stress of worrying about rejection, discrimination or being stigmatized because of weight can result in girls overeating, even years afterward.

The study, carried out by psychologists at UCLA, looked at roughly 2,400 young African-American and white girls in three U.S. cities. Girls labelled as fat were 1.7 times more likely of becoming obese later. In addition, as the number of people who told a girl she was fat increased, so did the likelihood that she would be obese nine years later.

In another study in California, researchers found that weight-loss diets do not lead to improvements in health. They conclude that trying to be thin is like trying to be taller and that many genetic factors probably come into play in one’s weight as they do for height.

The authors recommend that people eat in moderation, chose healthy food and stay active, rather than obsessing about weight or stigmatizing people who are overweight.

Source: Simply being called 'fat' makes young girls more likely to become obese: Trying to be thin is like trying to be tall

Study in JAMA Pediatrics: Weight Labeling and Obesity, A Longitudinal Study of Girls Aged 10 to 19 Years

Veille Action – 2 mai 2014

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