The Evolutionary Origins of Obesity Stigma: The Role of Disgust

Abstract

Obesity stigma affects around 650 million people worldwide, impacting their quality of life at work, at school, in healthcare settings, and in their personal relationships. Where does this stigma come from? Although social psychologists have argued that social norms, culturally specific beauty standards, and media messages are to blame for obesity stigma, I argue that evolutionary mechanisms are also partly responsible. In this theoretical review, I discuss how three evolutionary mechanisms may foster disgust reactions to obesity: (1) moral disgust (toward those who are viewed as working "less hard" or "free-riding"), (2) pathogen disgust (toward those who appear diseased or unwell), and (3) sexual disgust (toward those who are viewed as having greater reproductive risks). I ultimately propose that we may all have the innate capacity to feel disgusted under these 3 domains, but what exactly we may find disgusting is subjective to one's environment. By understanding the evolutionary mechanisms underlying obesity stigma, and the cultural cues that trigger these mechanisms, we are better equipped to alter our perceptions of those with obesity and build a more inclusive society.