THE IF ONLY I WERE THIN TREATMENT PROGRAM - DECREASING THE STIGMATIZING EFFECTS OF FATNESS

The authors describe an innovative treatment program for fat women des igned to increase the number and variety of their daily activities and decrease their fat phobic attitudes and depression, thereby increasin g their self-esteem. Data on 47 female clients who completed the Fat P hobia Scale, the Restricted Activities Scale, the Beck Depression Inve ntory-Short Form, and the Self-Esteem Scale, before and after treatmen t, indicate improvement on all four instruments. The therapy approach, which focused on (a) increasing clients' daily activities, (b)examini ng individual eating patterns, (c) redefining standards of beauty, and (d) teaching assertiveness skills to confront the prejudice and discr imination faced by fat people, is presented in detail.