Negotiations of Space, Place, and Stigma as an ‘Obese' Person

Introduction: ‘Obese’ individuals encounter pervasive stigma in multiple environments. This stigma is exacerbated by popular understandings of ‘obese’ individuals as responsible for their presumably unhealthy body size. The manner in which obese individuals conceptualize their own relationships to space, place, and public encounters within this stigmatizing context must be explored.

Methods: Repeated in-depth, semi-structured interviews and participant observation were conducted as part of a 1-year ethnographic, critical obesity study undertaken in a Canadian urban center. The study focuses on the health perceptions of ‘obese’ or formerly ‘obese’ adults, over time, and across different weight trajectories.

Results: Participants described contingent, variable, and often painful experiences in negotiating space, place, and public encounters as larger persons. Experiences of eating in public or socially and clothes shopping could be particularly damaging to self-concept. Climatic difficulties, particularly with respect to effects on mobility and functioning, were highly salient issues. Of particular importance to participants were safe, inclusive environments in which to engage in physical activity and to interact with healthcare personnel.

Discussion: Participants often felt shamed for occupying ‘excess’ space. They were surveilled when consuming food in public or in social places; this external preoccupation with their eating could endure regardless of weight changes. Furthermore, mobility issues hampered individuals’ capacity to engage in wellness-enhancing undertakings. Participants related positive experiences when they felt their weight was an incidental factor to engaging in fitness, self-care, or healthcare-related activities. Such affirming experiences in welcoming environments often translated to feelings of greater acceptance, motivation, and self-perceived wellness.