What's in a Name? The Effects of the Labels "Fat" Versus "Overweight" on Weight Bias
This research examined the effects of the labels "fat" vs. "overweight" in the expression of weight bias, with the prediction that the label "fat" biases individuals to respond more negatively than does the label "overweight." In Study 1, participants' at...
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Published in | Journal of applied social psychology Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 1981 - 2008 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Malden, USA
Blackwell Publishing Inc
01.08.2011
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | This research examined the effects of the labels "fat" vs. "overweight" in the expression of weight bias, with the prediction that the label "fat" biases individuals to respond more negatively than does the label "overweight." In Study 1, participants' attitudes toward people labeled as fat were less favorable than were their attitudes toward people labeled as overweight. In Studies 2 and 3, although participants chose similar-sized figures to depict fat and overweight targets, weight stereotypes and weight attitudes were more negative toward people labeled as fat than those labeled as overweight. In addition, the endorsement of weight stereotypes mediated the biasing effect of the "fat" label on weight prejudice. Implications of this work for prejudice researchers and for public attitudes are discussed. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT] |
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Bibliography: | This research was supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship awarded to the first author, and a research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council awarded to the second author. The authors thank Lisa Lutwak and Krysten Milne for their assistance in data coding for Study 2. ArticleID:JASP786 ark:/67375/WNG-P2JQMWP4-M istex:8A461521B9980BA3AD26CBF477B33A929EED8358 |
ISSN: | 0021-9029 1559-1816 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00786.x |