Whereas those who are slim are not

Apr 21, 2010 18:31 GMT  ·  By
Enforcing stereotypes: overweight people are automatically perceived as lazy, while slim ones aren’t
   Enforcing stereotypes: overweight people are automatically perceived as lazy, while slim ones aren’t

It’s long been argued that fat people are hated – not because they harm anyone but themselves (as opposed to smokers, for instance) but because their situation, their figure, is something they have brought upon themselves. That is to say, people who have weight issues are considered fat, a belief strengthened by a recent study cited by physorg.

Admittedly, the connection between overweight people and laziness is made almost instantly, most of the time without us even realizing. At the other end of the specter are those who are thin, and who can make us think of anything but of laziness. Since this is not a good reflection of reality – there can be toned heavy people and unhealthy slim ones – this perception must be addressed. So researchers first set out to determine that it actually exists.

“Tanya Berry, from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, says these stereotypes about overweight people need to be addressed. Berry says just because a person is overweight, it doesn’t mean they don’t exercise, and just because a person is thin, it doesn’t mean they are fit and healthy. Berry had a group of study participants look at a number of pictures that would flash on a computer screen. After each photo a sedentary word such as ‘lazy’ would appear. After the participants looked at each picture they were asked to say the color of each word,” physorg writes of the study.

“Berry says when a picture of a thin ‘couch potato’ came up, the participants were quick to say the color of the word that appeared. But when a photo of an overweight person lying down appeared, the study participants paused. Berry concluded that the slow reaction resulted as the stereotyped thoughts automatically set in, with the participant thinking about the person being lazy rather than thinking about the color of the word. Berry says the research is important because stereotypes can influence the way people behave,” the same publication informs of the findings of the study.

According to Berry, word must get out on these stereotypes because that’s the only one to curb negative behavior. If one is aware of the connection one immediately makes between an overweight person and laziness, one stands less chances of being influenced negatively about this stereotype, the researcher believes.