Definition Identity as Obese

Childhood and adolescence is of primary importance for identity formation.
A child’s view of himself is partly formed in the process of interaction with
his environment. Peers’ comments and reactions as well as how the child experiences
how he is managing in his environment are two important factors shaping
identity. Many obese children experience that they are not managing their
physical surroundings as well as children who are slim. Many obese adolescents
feel rejected and ignored by peers and adults. Other people look at them
and see in them only a fat person. Individuality is not recognized. The fiction
writer Margaret Atwood captures this in her novel ‘Lady oracle’ where she lets
an obese adolescent girl say, ‘all fat women look the same… fat women are not
more noticeable than thin women; they are less noticeable, because people find
them distressing and look away’. Many people associate obesity with lack of
control. Adolescents who are conditioned to this view experience hopelessness
and shame. To consider oneself as lacking control is very disturbing at an age
when one struggles to have control of one’s life and pretends to be in charge of
the affairs.
Some obese adolescents adopt a negative view of themselves as big, cumbersome
and unattractive persons. When this negative self-image becomes the
core identity of an individual it is difficult to change. A request or appeal to lose
weight may be experienced as a threat because for the young person it means
giving up his only identity. And it is better to have any identity, even a negative
one, than to have none. Even individuals who manage to lose weight can have
difficulty changing this negative self-image. Persons who were obese as adolescents
and succeeded in losing weight often retain their negative self-image
such as being big and clumsy.
Bullying
Bullying is both a contributing factor to obesity and an impediment to
gaining control over one’s weight. Bullying is a common problem worldwide
affecting some 20% of children [20]. It seems that bullying is most intense
between the ages of 7 and 12. Many bullies chose obese children as their target
for teasing and harassment because their appearance is conspicuous and they
are seen as different. Obese children are vulnerable because they are sensitive
to comments about their looks. Bullying has many negative consequences for
the victim. Bullying leads to feelings of sadness, sleeping disturbances and low
self-esteem. This in turn may increase behaviors that aggravate obesity, e.g.
consoling oneself by eating, reduced social contacts and reduced physical activity.
Children who have been criticized during physical activities develop negative
attitudes toward sports and exercise less [21].