Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Decreasing Obesity And Obesity Stigma: Socio-Demographic Differences In Beliefs About Causes Of And Responsibility For Obesity, Christy F. Brady

Sociology Faculty Publications

Obesity is a stigmatized condition, and research has shown that obesity stigma varies based on the perceived cause of obesity. It is important that public health professionals develop policy and campaigns that resonate with specific populations while avoiding an increase in harmful stigma. This study identifies socio-demographic differences in causal attributions of obesity and beliefs about responsibility for obesity. Using data from a survey of 923 people in the United States conducted by ABC New/Time Magazine, attributions of cause and responsibility are analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares regression. Beliefs about cause and responsibility fall on a continuum from primarily individual …