取笑肥胖的现象应被严肃处理
Poking fun at fat people should be treated as seriously as racism and sexism, researchers have said.
研究人员表示，取笑肥胖人士的现象应像种族歧视和性别歧视一样被严肃处理。
Obesity expert Dr Sarah Jackson said that the law should protect against weight discrimination, in the same way at it prohibits singling out people based on their age, gender or race.
Dr Jackson, of University College London, spoke out after conducting two studies into the physical and psychological effects of fattism.
Her latest study, of more than 5,000 British adults found that those who were made to feel ashamed of their size suffered more symptoms of depression.
They also had a lower quality of life than those who didn't feel victimised.
Examples of fattism included being treated disrespectfully, including being the butt of jokes, receiving poorer services in shops, restaurants, hospitals and doctors' surgeries, being threatened and being assumed to be stupid.
She previously showed shaming fat people into losing weight is counterproductive.
Far from shocking people into slimming, it actually leads to them piling on the pounds.
It is thought fattism drives those who are already sensitive about their weight to comfort eat. Fear of ridicule may also mean they avoid exercise.
With two-thirds of British women overweight or obese, jibes, taunts and simple thoughtlessness could be having a huge effect on the nation's mental and psychological health.