Under the 'weight' of norms: Social representations of overweight and obesity among Brazilian, French and Spanish dietitians and laywomen.

Autor: Gaspar MCMP; Food Observatory (Odela), Department of Social Anthropology (University of Barcelona), Campus de L'Alimentació de Torribera Universitat de Barcelona, Ed. La Masia, C/ Prat de La Riba, 171, 08921, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain; Research Center on Work Organizations and Policies (CERTOP) (University of Toulouse), CERTOP - UMR5044 - CNRS, Maison de La Recherche, Université de Toulouse - Jean-Jaurès, 5, Allée Antonio Machado, F-31058, Toulouse Cedex 9, France. Electronic address: ma.prata@gmail.com., Sato PM; School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition (University of São Paulo), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715 - Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 01246-904, Brazil. Electronic address: pri.sato@gmail.com., Scagliusi FB; School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition (University of São Paulo), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715 - Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 01246-904, Brazil. Electronic address: fernanda.scagliusi@gmail.com.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Social science & medicine (1982) [Soc Sci Med] 2022 Apr; Vol. 298, pp. 114861. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Feb 24.
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114861
Abstrakt: Most contemporary Western cultures are characterized by fatphobia. The fat body is seen as morally incorrect, a sign of disease, loss of control and weakness. People with obesity and overweight, especially women, are discriminated against and stigmatized for their body size, including by health professionals like dietitians. This study sought to understand and compare social representations of obesity and overweight among dietitians and laywomen from three nationalities: Brazilian, French and Spanish. A qualitative and comparative methodology was established based on 131 semi-structured individual interviews. The analysis revealed that the categories of overweight and obesity were negatively perceived by laywomen and dietitians from all three nationalities. Moral discourses linking these conditions with lack of discipline and a lack of emotional control were frequently used. Fatness was associated with irrationality, putting individuals who were overweight and obese in a position of social and moral inferiority. In the case of obesity, these ideas were more discriminatory and stigmatizing. Although environmental, genetic, hereditary or metabolic causes were mentioned as factors causing obesity, behavioural aspects occupied a central place in the discourses. Differences were also observed among the three nationalities. Cultural factors related to the relationship with body and food seemed to influence the interviewees' social representations. Brazilian laywomen and dietitians put more emphasis on moral and individual aspects. Spanish, French and informants who were overweight were more likely to cite physiological and environmental determinants. French informants also mentioned the role of food education given by parents. In conclusion, the discourses of professionals and laywomen had more similarities than differences, were based on moral and normative judgements and influenced by sociocultural norms. Fatphobic attitudes may impact dietitians' perception of patients with obesity and the eating education process.
(Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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