THE EXPERIENCE OF STIGMA AND SHAME ASSOCIATED WITH THE OBESE BODY WHEN UNDERGOING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY: A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

Stigma and shame experienced with the obese body cannot be overlooked when taking into
accountthe biopsychosocial factors at work when undergoing weight loss surgery. Society has a
tendency to classify people into what it considers to be „normal‟ or „abnormal‟. The academic
literature indicates that, due to the related health implications, Western cultures, including
medical and healthcare professionals, have adopted thepositionthat fat is bad to the point that
such beliefs might be considered an accepted form of bias. The present paper therefore
deliberates the theoretical literature on this matter and the implications this has for both policy
and practice.