Weight Prejudice: Myths & Facts
Monday, March 8th, 2010
Overweight and obese youth are frequently teased, tormented, and victimized because of their weight. Weight-based teasing and stigma (also called ‘weight bias’) can have a detrimental impact on both emotional well-being and physical health. The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University (http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/) has released this new video to increase youth awareness about weight bias, and to highlight strategies to help combat this rapidly growing problem for overweight adolescents. This video shows the story of Bene, a girl who is teased and victimized about her weight at school. In response to the daily teasing she confronts, Bene decides to educate her classmates about weight bias by making her own under-cover video to address the stigma that overweight youth encounter. Presented by Rebecca Puhl, PhD, Marlene Schwartz, PhD and Karen Dorsey, MD.
Duration : 0:16:59
Overweight and obese youth are frequently teased, tormented, and victimized because of their weight. Weight-based teasing and stigma (also called ‘weight bias’) can have a detrimental impact on both emotional well-being and physical health. The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University (http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/) has released this new video to help parents and teachers understand the severity and impacts of weight bias in school and at home and
Dr. Russell Pate, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences & Professor at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, testified before the Committee on Education and Labor at a hearing concerning childhood obesity and physical health and education on July 24, 2008.
A half hour documentary, produced by WHRO, examines the epidemic of childhood obesity. Childhood health professionals paint a grim picture for the future of overweight children unless we begin to make systemic changes that support more healthy choices. Local, state and national childhood health experts, including William H. Dietz, Jr., MD, PhD, Director of Nutrition & Physical Activity at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, discuss steps we can take to turn the tide, and the program highlights organizations with exemplary programs which encourage healthier lifestyles.