Weight stigma adversely affects the health and wellbeing of people living with obesity. First Nations Australians experience disproportionately high rates of obesity compared to non-First Nations Australians, yet little is known about how weight stigma affects them. This study aimed to explore the First Nations perspective of weight stigma in the Northern Territory, namely the experiences, responses, and implications of weight stigma on health and wellbeing.
This qualitative study was underpinned by a phenomenological methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 First Nations adults living with obesity (4 men, 12 women, mean age 42 years), recruited from the Royal Darwin Hospital Weight Management Clinic. Interviews were conducted by SCG, an Aboriginal researcher with lived experience of obesity. Data were analysed independently by AC and AW through two rounds of inductive analysis.
Participants experienced weight stigma across multiple settings, including healthcare, public spaces, and workplaces. In all settings, stigma manifested in the forms of direct (e.g., name-calling), environmental (e.g., not fitting into seats on aeroplanes), and indirect (e.g., non-verbal judgment) discrimination. Responses to stigma varied from internalisation, to confronting perpetrators of stigma. Many participants noted that with increasing age, they developed resilience and were less affected by stigma. The most widely reported implications of weight stigma were that of low self-esteem, strained family dynamics, avoidance of certain activities and places, and feeling like opportunities were limited due to their weight. These in turn led to social exclusion and self-isolation, poor mental health, a sense of powerlessness, and perpetuation of unhealthy behaviours.
These findings highlight the pervasive impact of weight stigma on the health and wellbeing of First Nations Australians living with obesity in the Northern Territory. They underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to reduce stigma and promote inclusivity across multiple settings, to improve health and wellbeing for First Nations people.