ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Weight stigma is a phenomenon associated with adverse behavioural and psychological consequences. Although experts suggest that its increase during the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with worse health outcomes for people with obesity, a thorough analysis of the main findings and gaps is still needed when relating to this subject. OBJECTIVE: We aim to answer three questions: (1) How does weight stigma manifest in the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) How can weight stigma affect people with overweight or obesity in times of COVID-19? (3) What are the perceptions and experiences of weight stigma during the pandemic in individuals who experience overweight or obesity? METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of studies addressing weight stigma and the COVID-19 pandemic in electronic databases (Medline/PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, BVS/Lilacs, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and OpenGrey) published until 10th August 2021. All relevant studies were reviewed in full by two researchers. In addition, a narrative synthesis of the data was performed. RESULTS: The results included 35 studies out of 8,090 records and identified 13 original research publications, 14 text and opinion papers, and 6 narrative reviews. The results revealed the presence of weight stigma in the media, healthcare settings, interpersonal relationships, and public campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence of increasing weight stigma in the COVID-19 outbreak is limited, though. Many weight discrimination consequences were described during this time, such as impairment in accessing healthcare, worst COVID-19 outcomes, and maladaptive eating. However, only maladaptive behaviours and decline in mental health outcomes were demonstrated empirically in all age groups. This effect occurred regardless of body mass index, but people with high body weight were more likely to experience weight stigma. For some people with obesity, weight stigma in the pandemic has made activities of daily routine difficult. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that weight stigma in the COVID-19 pandemic occurs in several settings; moreover, although weight discrimination impacts mental health, whether before or during the pandemic, this influence between the pandemic and pre-pandemic scenario is still unclear. Therefore, more research is required in this field while the pandemic lasts, especially with people with obesity. Overall, people with overweight or obesity are more vulnerable to weight stigma than individuals without overweight. In addition, weight stigma refers to discrimination or prejudice based on a person's weight and relates to several consequences, for instance, poor healthcare treatment and mental health problems. In the COVID-19 outbreak, these weight stigma effects tend to become even more critical because they may be associated with unfavourable COVID-19 outcomes and eating disorder risks. Thus, it is crucial to investigate how weight stigma occurs during the pandemic and its impact on health, mainly for the most affected people. We investigated 35 studies published between 2019 and 2021 to map and explore how weight stigma was manifested and the related consequences for people with overweight or obesity in the COVID-19 pandemic. Only about a third of them were quantitative or qualitative, limiting the evidence of weight stigma in the COVID-19 context. The available evidence suggests that weight stigma manifests in several settings such as media, healthcare, public campaigns, and is more common in people with excess weight. However, weight discrimination experiences before or during the pandemic were associated with adverse psychological and behavioural consequences across all age groups, regardless of body weight. For some people with obesity, for instance, weight stigma made it difficult to accomplish their activities of daily routine. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether weight stigma has increased in the pandemic, thus, more studies are required, especially about people with overweight or obesity.
ABSTRACT
This work aimed at identifying, describing and analyzing news content associated with Google search cycles linked to eight types of diet: ketogenic; moon; protein; soup; detox; points; paleo; and Dukan. They were selected because they were pointed out by Google Trends® (GT) as the most often associated with the term "diet". The content of sites linked to the highest search peaks was pointed out by Google News®. The volume of search attempts for diets was estimated by the GT with region filters (Brazil) and theme (Health) considering the period from 01/01/2012 to 01/01/2017. Results: hits portray ephemeral cycles, with hundreds of peaks and declining interest in the eight fad diets. The emphasis is on guidelines for quick weight loss in favor of optimal health as a proxy for an esthetic ideal. The scale of the risks associated with the more restrictive diets is often quoted and validated by expert information. The exposure and influence of the opinion of celebrities reporting their dietary experiences stand out. Contrary to the ideal of moderation, variety, and balance, fad diets portray the pressure for food self-control as a resource for building an idealized body typified by celebrity images.
Este trabalho objetivou descrever e analisar conteúdos de notícias associadas a ciclos de buscas ao Google ligados a 8 tipos de dieta: a cetogênica; da lua; da proteína; da sopa; detox; dos pontos; paleo; e Dukan. Estas foram selecionadas por terem sido apontadas pelo Google Trends® (GT) como as mais frequentemente associadas ao termo dieta. Os conteúdos dos sites vinculados aos maiores picos de buscas foram apontados pelo Google News®. O volume de buscas às dietas foram estimados pelo GT com filtros de região (Brasil) e temática (Saúde) considerando o período de 01/01/2012 a 01/01/2017. Os acessos retratam ciclos efêmeros com centenas de picos e quedas de interesse pelas 8 dietas da moda. A ênfase se concentra nas orientações para rápida perda de peso em prol de um ideal de saúde tido como proxy de um ideal estético. A dimensão dos riscos associados às dietas mais restritivas é citada frequentemente e validada por informações de especialistas. Destaca-se a exposição e a influência da opinião de celebridades relatando suas experiências dietéticas. Ao contrário do ideal de variedade e equilíbrio, as dietas da moda retratam a pressão pelo autocontrole alimentar como recurso à construção de um corpo idealizado e tipificado por imagens das celebridades.
Subject(s)
Famous Persons , Brazil , Humans , InternetABSTRACT
This article analyzes the social and cultural dimensions of food addressed in the dietary guidelines of the second edition of the Dietary Guideline for the Brazilian Population (DGBP) in contrast to its first edition. This is a qualitative study. We employ the Pecheutian discourse analysis. The study universe is the first and second edition of DGBP. Data analysis used three steps: identification of similar and different texts of these materials; elucidation of the social and cultural dimensions of food in these materials; and systematic analysis with contrasting emerging discourses in both DGBPs. We emphasize that in the second edition the theoretical references-epidemiological, clinical, sociological, anthropological studies, and popular knowledge-and the use of the NOVA food classification favored the development of more holistic dietary guidelines that address food and eating patterns, culinary practices, the act of eating and the commensality. It is concluded that the second editions of DGPB allows health professionals and the population an understanding of food as something concrete in the life of individuals and collectivity, extrapolating its physiological and biological dimension.
Este artigo analisa as dimensões sociais e culturais da alimentação abordadas nas diretrizes alimentares da segunda edição do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira (GAPB), contrapondo-o com a sua primeira edição. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo. Empregamos a análise de discurso Pecheutiana. O universo de estudo são a primeira e a segunda edição do GAPB. A análise dos dados utilizou três etapas: identificação de textos similares e diferentes dos materiais; elucidação das dimensões sociais e culturais da alimentação nos materiais; e análise sistemática com contraposição dos discursos emergentes em ambos os GAPBs. Enfatizamos que na segunda edição os referenciais teóricos - estudos epidemiológicos, clínicos, sociológicos, antropológicos e saberes populares - e a utilização da classificação de alimentos NOVA favoreceram o desenvolvimento de diretrizes alimentares mais holísticas que abordam os padrões de alimentação e refeição, as práticas culinárias, o ato de comer e a comensalidade. Conclui-se que a segunda edição do GAPB possibilita aos profissionais de saúde e à população uma compreensão do alimento enquanto parte concreta da vida dos indivíduos e coletividade, extrapolando sua dimensão fisiológica e biológica.