In the first studies to examine what the public thinks about people with an addiction to food, researchers at Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, found that while those with food addiction are viewed more favorably than those with other addictive behaviors, labeling obese persons as addicts further stigmatizes them.
Rebecca Puhl, Director of Food Policy for the Rudd Center says, “When a person is perceived as a food addict they are perceived to be more likable and they generate more empathy and less anger or less disgust compared to a person who was labeled with an alcohol or drug addiction."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese and at risk for conditions that include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer that result in billions of dollars in medical costs each year. But, coinciding with the rise in obesity, evidence has been building that suggests a link between obesity and addictive behavior similar to that seen with alcohol and tobacco addictions.
However, survey findings also showed that labeling an individula as a "food addict" increased stigmatizing attitudes when this label was applied to an obese individual. Participants expressed more irritation, anger, and disgust toward an obese person described as a food addict, suggesting that the "food addict" label could increase blame toward the obese if the public associates the label with out-of-control eating.
Puhl says that "we know that people who are obese are already vulnerable to pervasive stigma in our society and we need to be careful that the language that we use surrounding addiction and food and obesity does not place additional stigma on these individuals."
