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Eating and weight disorders : EWD
Jun, 2016;21 (2): 229-35.

Does this Tweet make me look fat? A content analysis of weight stigma on Twitter.

Janet A Lydecker, Elizabeth W Cotter, Allison A Palmberg, Courtney Simpson, Melissa Kwitowski, Kelly White, Suzanne E Mazzeo
Author Information
  1. Janet A Lydecker: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 301 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA. janet.lydecker@yale.edu. ORCID
  2. Elizabeth W Cotter: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
  3. Allison A Palmberg: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
  4. Courtney Simpson: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
  5. Melissa Kwitowski: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
  6. Kelly White: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
  7. Suzanne E Mazzeo: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
PMID: 27068174 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-016-0272-x

Abstract

PURPOSE: Weight stigma involves stereotyping individuals based on body size. Individuals with obesity face weight stigma in many areas of their lives, and consequences can include impairment of mental and physical health, relationships, and academic performance. Weight-stigmatizing messages are pervasive in mass media, but the degree and characteristics of its presence within new-media social environments remain comparatively unknown.
METHODS: This study examined weight stigma on Twitter by coding Tweet content that included the word "fat" within a 4-h timeframe (N = 4596). Coding marked demographic characteristics represented in content, messages about weight, and perceived intent of the message.
RESULTS: Of all messages, 56.57 % were negative and 32.09 % were neutral. Of those containing weight-stigmatizing messages (n = 529), themes relating to fatness included: gluttonous (48.58 %), unattractive (25.14 %), not sexually desirable (2.65 %), sedentary (13.80 %), lazy (5.86 %), and stupid (4.16 %).
CONCLUSIONS: Weight-stigmatizing messages are evident in the increasingly important arena of social media, and themes appear similar to those that emerge in other forms of media. Prevention and intervention body image programs should consider targeting social networks to help individuals manage societal messages.

Keywords

Content analysis Prevention Social media Twitter Weight stigma

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MeSH Term

Body Image
Body Weight
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Sex Factors
Social Media
Social Stigma
Stereotyping
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 35

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0messagesstigmaweightmediasocialTwittercontentWeightindividualsbodyWeight-stigmatizingcharacteristicswithinTweetthemesPreventionanalysisPURPOSE:involvesstereotypingbasedsizeIndividualsobesityfacemanyareaslivesconsequencescanincludeimpairmentmentalphysicalhealthrelationshipsacademicperformancepervasivemassdegreepresencenew-mediaenvironmentsremaincomparativelyunknownMETHODS:studyexaminedcodingincludedword"fat"4-htimeframeN = 4596CodingmarkeddemographicrepresentedperceivedintentmessageRESULTS:5657 %negative3209 %neutralcontainingweight-stigmatizingn = 529relatingfatnessincluded:gluttonous4858 %unattractive2514 %sexuallydesirable265 %sedentary1380 %lazy586 %stupid416 %CONCLUSIONS:evidentincreasinglyimportantarenaappearsimilaremergeformsinterventionimageprogramsconsidertargetingnetworkshelpmanagesocietalmakelookfat?ContentSocial

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