LighterLife reveal the scale of bullying suffered by Britain's
obese
Released
on: November 3, 2008, 8:06 am
Press
Release Author: LighterLife
Industry:
Food
& Beverage
Press
Release Summary: LighterLife has conducted a survey that reveals
the shocking scale of abuse suffered by overweight Britons
Press
Release Body: LighterLife, the UK weight loss
specialist, has conducted a survey of 1000 adults that reveals
the full scale of abuse suffered by overweight or obese Britons.
According
to the survey, nine out of ten overweight people in Britain have
been called a derogatory name about their weight, and yet many
who insult others are overweight or obese themselves. While 46%
of people admit to having called, referred to or thought of an
overweight person by a derogatory name because of their weight,
the percentage of bullies who are overweight themselves is surprisingly
high, with 33% of obese or very obese respondents admitting to
insulting other overweight people.
When
it comes to insulting friends and relatives, men are the cruelest,
with 28 per cent of men – nearly a third – admitting
to insulting overweight friends, whereas many more women are restrained,
with just 11% levelling abuse at overweight people they know.
The problem reduces with age however; 29 per cent of 16-24-year-olds
will call a friend or relative a derogatory name, whereas only
12 per cent of 55-64-year-olds will do this.
Where
someone lives is likely to determine how much abuse they get too.
For example, 30% of Londoners would call a friend or relative
a derogatory name, while only 15% of Scots would do the same.
The
survey from LighterLife has concerned many in
the weight management industry, stressing that people need encouragement
to go on weight loss diets,
not abuse.
Mandy
Cassidy, a psychotherapist with LighterLife, said: "It’s
sad that adults now find such behaviour acceptable, and particularly
so among the younger age groups, as they could well carry through
these views as they get older, thus increasing the problem even
further."
People
can appear to shrug off comments, she added, but inside, they
can be devastated: "Often it is only through counselling
that the full impact become clear - many of our clients have resorted
to avoiding social occasions and decline invitations.
"Even
some people who appear totally confident say that they become
'really good liars' and concoct a range of excuses for not attending
events – which can drive them indoors, to eat as a way of
dealing with their hurt and anger, which compounds the problem.
"Just
because someone is overweight, it doesn’t mean it’s
acceptable to insult them. This type of prejudice isn’t
tolerated in any other walk of life – so we shouldn’t
allow it here?"
Dr
Ian W Campbell, Hon. Medical Director of charity Weight Concern,
said: "These findings are very concerning. People who
have a weight problem need support, encouragement and advice on
how to lose weight,
not ridicule.
"Many
already have underlying psychological and self-esteem issues and
this type of behaviour can only serve to make matters worse and
cause a great deal of distress.
"Few
people want to be very overweight and would love to be able to
change. That process needs support, not criticism; it needs incentive,
not punishment."
About
LighterLife:
LighterLife is a weight
loss management programme for people who are clinically obese,
equivalent to three stone or more overweight and with a body mass
index greater than 29.
The unique LighterLife approach combines low-calorie
diets in the form of nutritionally complete soups, shakes
and bars, with specialised counselling using cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT) and transactional analysis (TA) techniques. Clients
benefit not only from safe, fast weight
loss but they also learn the behavioural change needed to
sustain it.
Founded
in 1996, the LighterLife Programme was developed by three of its
directors – Jackie Cox, Bar Hewlett and Rebecca Hunter.
Web
Site: http://www.lighterlife.com/
Contact
Details: PR Contact:
Heather Butcher
PR & Communications Manager
LighterLife
Cavendish House
Parkway
Harlow Business Park
Harlow
Essex
5QF CM19
0800 2 988 988
2009
