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Emotional toll of obesity: Study finds deep self-stigma in people seeking bariatric care

To understand the impact of obesity on an individual’s mental and emotional health, the study assessed 142 participants, of whom 78.9% were women, using the validated Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS). All patients with a body mass index ≥ 27.5 Kg/m2 were included in the study.

4 min readPuneDec 10, 2025 07:08 PM IST

The emotional weight of obesity far exceeds the physical. A study has found a significant burden of internalised weight bias (negative beliefs about self due to weight) among individuals with obesity seeking metabolic and bariatric surgery.

“The Burden from Within—An Indian Pilot Study on Weight Bias Internalisation” was published in the international journal of International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity (IFSO)’s Obesity Surgery journal.

Lead author Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker and Mumbai based bariatric surgeon at MetaHeal Laparoscopy and Bariatric Surgery Centre told The Indian Express that weight-related bullying often begins in childhood and can persist throughout adulthood. “People living with obesity are frequently judged as lazy or lacking willpower. Negative media portrayals, especially weight-based memes and stigmatising content, only deepen these harmful beliefs. Post-pandemic trends show that online negativity toward obesity has grown even stronger.”

To understand the impact of obesity on an individual’s mental and emotional health, the study assessed 142 participants, of whom 78.9% were women, using the validated Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS). All patients with a body mass index ≥ 27.5 Kg/m2 were included in the study. Researchers analysed overall scores, age correlation, and BMI association to understand how stigma affects patients preparing for metabolic and bariatric surgery.

The findings from the survey revealed that more than 71.1% of participants scored above the neutral point, clearly showing that internalized weight bias is highly prevalent in people with obesity. An overwhelming 74.6% participants felt depressed about their weight. More than half of the study participants felt less attractive, and more than one-third questioned their own competence, researchers said.

More than half the participants expressed strong feelings like hating themselves due to their weight and saw weight as a major way of judging their value as a person. When it came to their social life, about 45.8% of participants questioned how anyone attractive would want to date them, and half of them believed they were not deserving of a fulfilling social life until they were not overweight. Younger individuals experienced stronger internalized bias, while those with higher BMI showed stronger levels of self-directed stigma, as per the study.

“This shows that obesity status and internalisation of weight bias affect social interactions, connections, and relationships, which can have a long-lasting impact on the life course of an individual’s personal, emotional, occupational, and financial trajectory,” Dr Govil Bhasker said.

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The rates of obesity have almost doubled in India since 2005 and as per the fifth National Family Health Survey (2019-21) the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Indian women and men aged 15 to 49 years is 24% and 22.9 % respectively. Despite this rapidly increasing rate of obesity, it is not formally recognised as a disease in India.
Dr. Govil Bhasker also highlighted that these findings show how deeply weight stigma is rooted in our society.

“Patients often feel ashamed, guilty, and discouraged. They endure years of negative comments, judgment, and misinformation, and over time, these negative experiences become internalized. This affects their self-worth and mental health and can delay their decision to seek proper treatment. Obesity is a chronic disease, not a personal failure, and supporting patients emotionally is just as important as helping them medically,” she said, adding there is an urgent need for targeted interventions.

Dr. Vishakha Jain, Professor of Medicine at AIIMS BibiNagar and among the researchers added that this constant stigma seeps into everyday life, affecting physical health, mental well-being, work performance, and relationships. It fuels poor mental health, unhealthy eating patterns, and even biological stress responses like higher inflammation. “Together, these pressures create a cycle of self-blame and prejudice, often making individuals feel undeserving of care,” Dr Jain added.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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