Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on Health
Binge eating disorder (BED) has long been an overlooked mental health condition, making its recognition and treatment more challenging. This study examines the impacts of social stigma and fatphobia on individuals with BED, exploring how these factors influence their well-being and perpetuate cycles...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Societies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/5/115 |
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| author | Alexandra Ainz-Galende María José Torres-Haro Rubén Rodríguez-Puertas |
| author_facet | Alexandra Ainz-Galende María José Torres-Haro Rubén Rodríguez-Puertas |
| author_sort | Alexandra Ainz-Galende |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Binge eating disorder (BED) has long been an overlooked mental health condition, making its recognition and treatment more challenging. This study examines the impacts of social stigma and fatphobia on individuals with BED, exploring how these factors influence their well-being and perpetuate cycles of exclusion and discrimination. Using a psychosocial approach, this research analyzes how societal misperceptions about BED foster harmful stereotypes, such as the belief that being overweight results from a lack of willpower or personal negligence. This study is based on a qualitative discourse analysis of 12 participants diagnosed with BED. The findings highlight the presence of compensatory behaviors, including fasting, excessive exercise, and laxative use, which challenge the conventional understanding of BED. The results reveal that BED affects not only individuals at a personal level, but also deeply impacts their social and family lives, reinforcing shame, guilt, and self-hatred. Diet culture and weight stigma contribute to social exclusion, further hindering access to proper treatment. This study provides a critical perspective on the need for a cultural shift in how society perceives weight and eating behaviors, advocating for a more inclusive health model that prioritizes mental well-being and body diversity over arbitrary aesthetic standards. These findings underscore the need for greater societal understanding, inclusive health narratives, and further qualitative research into the lived experiences of individuals with BED. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d05ca43c81741a2a6a9137fe3f36227 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4698 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Societies |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d05ca43c81741a2a6a9137fe3f362272025-08-20T03:47:54ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982025-04-0115511510.3390/soc15050115Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on HealthAlexandra Ainz-Galende0María José Torres-Haro1Rubén Rodríguez-Puertas2Department of Geography, History and Humanities, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Geography, History and Humanities, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Geography, History and Humanities, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, SpainBinge eating disorder (BED) has long been an overlooked mental health condition, making its recognition and treatment more challenging. This study examines the impacts of social stigma and fatphobia on individuals with BED, exploring how these factors influence their well-being and perpetuate cycles of exclusion and discrimination. Using a psychosocial approach, this research analyzes how societal misperceptions about BED foster harmful stereotypes, such as the belief that being overweight results from a lack of willpower or personal negligence. This study is based on a qualitative discourse analysis of 12 participants diagnosed with BED. The findings highlight the presence of compensatory behaviors, including fasting, excessive exercise, and laxative use, which challenge the conventional understanding of BED. The results reveal that BED affects not only individuals at a personal level, but also deeply impacts their social and family lives, reinforcing shame, guilt, and self-hatred. Diet culture and weight stigma contribute to social exclusion, further hindering access to proper treatment. This study provides a critical perspective on the need for a cultural shift in how society perceives weight and eating behaviors, advocating for a more inclusive health model that prioritizes mental well-being and body diversity over arbitrary aesthetic standards. These findings underscore the need for greater societal understanding, inclusive health narratives, and further qualitative research into the lived experiences of individuals with BED.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/5/115binge eating disorderfatphobiasocial stigmacompensatory behaviorsinclusive health |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Ainz-Galende María José Torres-Haro Rubén Rodríguez-Puertas Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on Health Societies binge eating disorder fatphobia social stigma compensatory behaviors inclusive health |
| title | Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on Health |
| title_full | Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on Health |
| title_fullStr | Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on Health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on Health |
| title_short | Binge Eating Disorder and Fatphobia: Social Stigma, Exclusion, and the Need for a New Perspective on Health |
| title_sort | binge eating disorder and fatphobia social stigma exclusion and the need for a new perspective on health |
| topic | binge eating disorder fatphobia social stigma compensatory behaviors inclusive health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/5/115 |
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