article_snippet: An obesity expert says mocking the overweight 'should be illegal'.
article_snippet: Poking fun at fat people should be treated as seriously as racism and sexism, researchers have said.
article_snippet: Dr Jackson, of University College London, spoke out after conducting two studies into the physical and psychological effects of fattism.
article_snippet: Examples of fattism included being treated disrespectfully, including being the butt of jokes, receiving poorer services in shops, restaurants, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries, being threatened and being assumed to be stupid.
article_snippet: Dr Sarah Jackson previously showed shaming fat people into losing weight is counterproductive.
article_snippet: Far from shocking people into slimming, it actually leads to shocking people piling on the pounds.
article_snippet: it is thought fattism drives those who are already sensitive about shocking people weight to comfort eat.
article_snippet: Fear of ridicule may also mean Fear of ridicule avoid exercise.
article_snippet: With two-thirds of British women overweight or obese, jibes, taunts and simple thoughtlessness could be having a huge effect on the nation’s mental and psychological health.