Negative stereotyping of obesity in children: The role of controllability beliefs

This study investigated the extent of negative stereotyping of obesity (com pared to negative stereotyping of height) in children and its relationship with the perception of obesity as controllable. Questionnaires measuring ne gative stereotyping and controllability beliefs about weight (and height) w ere completed by 96 children from Grades 4 to 6. Consistent negative stereo typing of obesity was found for both child and adult targets, regardless of the child's own gender, age, or weight. Likewise, children uniformly belie ved obesity to be largely under volitional control. The degree of controlla bility assigned to obesity was positively correlated with the extent of neg ative stereotyping. It was concluded that control beliefs may provide a veh icle for changing the strong negative attitudes displayed toward fat people .