{"id":19123,"date":"2019-12-31T18:39:26","date_gmt":"2019-12-31T18:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=19123"},"modified":"2020-01-01T03:45:01","modified_gmt":"2020-01-01T03:45:01","slug":"fat-shaming-pregnant-women-isnt-just-mean-its-harmful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/fat-shaming-pregnant-women-isnt-just-mean-its-harmful\/","title":{"rendered":"Fat-shaming pregnant women isn’t just mean, it’s harmful"},"content":{"rendered":"

Angela Incollingo Rodriguez<\/a>, Worcester Polytechnic Institute<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

December is considered the most fertile month, a time when there\u2019s the greatest likelihood that children will be conceived<\/a>. Some experts even pinpoint Dec. 11 as the most fertile day.<\/p>\n

But in the lead up to giving birth and in the time after bringing home their new additions, many women may experience an unwelcome surprise. Family, friends and even bystanders are all too quick to comment on \u2013 and often criticize \u2013 an expectant or new mother\u2019s weight.<\/p>\n

This shaming can include judging a mother-to-be for her weight before becoming pregnant; the weight she gains over pregnancy; and the weight she doesn\u2019t lose after having the baby. Weight stigma like this is potentially a very real threat to maternal health.<\/p>\n

Outside the realm of pregnancy, research shows that experiencing weight stigma is stressful and harmful<\/a>. For instance, it is associated with various health consequences, including weight gain, heightened cortisol and inflammation, and unhealthy or disordered eating<\/a>. Despite this, little research has examined weight stigma\u2019s effects on pregnant and postpartum women.<\/p>\n

As a health psychologist studying weight stigma and its consequences<\/a>, I see pregnancy as an important new avenue for research. This is because, in the context of pregnancy, the consequences may be multiplied by two. Stress that affects a pregnant woman might harm her unborn child as well<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do pregnant women actually get shamed for their weight?<\/h2>\n
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Friends and family often try to monitor what a pregnant woman eats.<\/span>
\nFederico Marcicano\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The short answer \u2013 yes! My recent research suggests that nearly two-thirds of pregnant and postpartum women experience some form of weight stigma<\/a>. In one study, 501 pregnant and postpartum women reported experiencing weight stigma from multiple people and places.<\/p>\n

For instance, 21% indicated they had experienced it from immediate family. One woman said, \u201cA good number of my family told me that I shouldn\u2019t be \u2018trying\u2019 to get pregnant because I\u2019m too heavy after they found out I was expecting.\u201d Nearly 25% reported feeling stigmatized by the media. Also, 33% said they experienced weight stigma in the media, an example being, \u201csociety treats overweight pregnant women as less than.\u201d<\/p>\n

Health care providers were another common source. One woman shared, \u201cOne doctor told me I was terrible for getting pregnant at my weight \u2026 I was setting up my baby to fail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moreover, these types of experiences didn\u2019t just happen for heavy mothers. Women of all weights experienced some form of weight stigma.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the big deal?<\/h2>\n
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Weight shaming has been linked to increased postpartum depression in women, an often serious illness.<\/span>
\nAspen Studio\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s a widely held concern that heavy women are unhealthy and have unhealthy pregnancies<\/a>, so many think we need to intervene on weight. My research, however, suggests that we should also be very concerned about weight stigma directed at pregnant and postpartum women.<\/p>\n

For instance, in that same sample of 501 women, having experienced weight stigma<\/a> was related to more symptoms of depression (both during and after pregnancy), dieting in unhealthy ways, more emotional eating behavior, and feeling stressed out. Among postpartum moms, weight stigma was also related to keeping on their baby weight.<\/p>\n