Breaking the Cycle of Body Size Bias
How microaggressions contribute to a culture of body shaming and discrimination.
Microaggressions are everyday verbal or behavioral actions that may be unintended but can be perceived as demeaning, derogatory, or insulting. These actions stem from implicit biases, prejudices, or stereotypes that people hold towards others based on their characteristics, such as race, gender, or disability. Body shape and size microaggressions are specific comments or behaviors that belittle, criticize, or make assumptions about an individual’s body size or shape.
Body shape and size microaggressions can have detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Negative body image, eating disorders, depression and anxiety, social isolation, and discrimination are some of the consequences of these microaggressions. Moreover, they reinforce harmful societal stereotypes and biases about body size and shape.
Some examples of body shape and size microaggressions include assuming that someone’s weight is indicative of their health or lifestyle choices, making unsolicited recommendations or judgments about someone’s eating habits or exercise routines, using language that implies that being thin is desirable and being larger is undesirable, and assuming that someone’s body shape or size is indicative of…
