Weight Bias May Show Up in School Kids As Young As 9
School-age kids may be biased against their peers who are overweight or obese and not even know it, a new study finds.
To measure levels of bias in schoolchildren, researchers showed them a series of photos of children who were slim and children who were overweight. They found that the kids showed more bias toward the overweight kids than the slimmer ones, according to the study.
It’s unclear exactly where this type of bias stems from, but previous research on racial bias has suggested that unconscious biases are not innate, said study co-author Dr. Eliana Perrin, a professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In other words, these biases must be learned.
June 27, 2017 @ 12:36 pm
“People shouldn’t jump to supplements if they have these symptoms,” said Vandana Sheth, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
June 27, 2017 @ 12:36 pm
Many of these symptoms can be signs of another condition, Sheth said, adding that blood tests can confirm a deficiency, and a diet assessment may help people get their needed nutrients without resorting to supplements.