Anti-fat or Anti-thin Attitudes Toward Peers? Stereotyped Beliefs and Weight Prejudice in Italian Children

Abstract

This study explored weight prejudice in 140 Italian pupils aged 5-10 by examining a) stereotyped beliefs that pupils have regarding overweight, underweight, and normal-weight body picture of children, b) the anti-fat attitudes, c) the choice of best friend and classmate, and d) the relationships between the anti-fat attitudes and the choice of best friend/classmate and the rejection referred to recreational activities expressed toward one of the body pictures. Results showed that pupils attributed negative characteristics to overweight and positive traits to normal-weight body pictures and expressed high levels of anti-fat attitudes toward overweight peers. Pupils chose normal-weight and underweight body picture of children as best friends/classmates and rejected overweight body pictures for recreational activities. Pupils who expressed negative attitudes toward overweight peers chose underweight peers as best friends/classmates and rejected overweight ones. Future researches could investigate measures that can be taken to reduce anti-fat prejudice in Italian school context.