Research indicates that individuals with obesity experience higher unemployment rates, fewer social connections, and poorer physical and mental well-being.
A new study suggests that individuals dealing with obesity may encounter fewer social and health challenges if they reside in areas where obesity is more common. The findings have been published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Researchers led by Jana Berkessel of the University of Mannheim in Germany gathered data on over 3.4 million individuals residing in the United States and the United Kingdom. Their findings suggest that individuals dealing with obesity may experience milder medical and psychological effects when they feel less socially conspicuous.
“For me, this means that at least some of the adverse consequences of obesity appear socially constructed and, thus can be reduced,” Jana Berkessel said.
The impact of obesity on individuals and society is extensive. According to the World Health Organization, the worldwide rate of obesity almost tripled from 1975 to 2021. In the U.S., healthcare costs associated with obesity amount to approximately $ 147 billion, as reported by government statistics.
Research indicates that individuals with obesity experience higher unemployment rates, fewer social connections, and poorer physical and mental well-being. They also face prejudice and discrimination.
However, obesity rates vary between countries, states, provinces, and other regional divisions. In some parts of the U.S., roughly half of the population lives with obesity, while obesity rates in other regions are as low as 5%.
“Berkessel and her colleagues theorized that the harsh effects of obesity vary based on the prevalence of obesity in a given region.”
“It is quite easily imaginable that persons with obesity in regions with low obesity rates stick out much more, and therefore will have very different social experiences on an everyday basis,”Berkessel, said who studies the effect of social context on our well-being.
The researchers analyzed three extensive sets of data from thousands of U.S. counties and hundreds of U.K. districts. These datasets contained information about participants’ weight, height, and where they lived, as well as details about their social, health, and economic status. They identified a Body Mass Index(BMI) of 30 or higher as an indicator of obesity. ( Medical professionals typically consider a healthy BMI to fall within the range of 18.5 to 24.9).
In a U.S. dataset, researchers discovered that obesity rates were higher than average in the Midwest, the South, and along parts of the East Coast, and lower than average in New England, Florida, and the Western states. In a U.K. dataset, high obesity rates were found in the central and northern parts of the country, particularly in southern Wales, while the lowest rates were found in the nation’s southern region, including London.
“ Berkessel and her team discovered that, in general, individuals with obesity reported more challenges in relationships, finances, and health compared to those without obesity. However, they also found that individuals residing in regions with low obesity rates were notably more likely to be unemployed and to report suboptimal health compared to their counterparts in areas with high obesity rates”.
The research team also analyzed U.S. data that included participant’s self-reported attitudes toward people’s weight. They found that weight bias appears to be lowest in areas with high rates of obesity. This might explain why individuals with obesity in those areas are less likely to be single and report poor health compared to those in areas with high weight bias.
Regardless of the regional differences around weight bias, public health experts should emphasize the importance of reducing obesity because of its health risks, the researchers concluded.