I came out of the Escape the Stigma escape room with a deeper appreciation of what it’s really like to live with obesity and its impact on all aspects of life.
I’ve never been overweight or obese, or particularly tall at 5’3”. So, walking into an escape room set designed to quiz participants on the real-world experiences of stigma and weight discrimination was a big step out of my comfort zone. I’ve never had to squirm and deal with teasing as a kid with extra weight or feel the loneliness of not fitting in based on size and shape. And I’ve never been at a house party as a larger person who had to smile along with the crowd at fat jokes that were circulating just because people think they’re funny.
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“Stigma and weight discrimination are added burdens to an individual’s health and can be a barrier to weight management,” reads the takeaway card at the event. That came through loud and clear in the escape room’s series of puzzles—along with that sense of bewilderment that I get when I’m stuck. People in larger bodies might feel just as boxed-in (like a locked escape room) by labels and misperceptions about their weight.
First, I looked at the grocery list on the fridge. Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and eggs. If that’s all you’re eating, that’s do-able for a day or two, but then sends your body into starvation mode to lower metabolism and conserve fat for fuel. Restrictive diets don’t work and any weight loss usually piles back on. Still, have you caught yourself looking at what’s in someone’s grocery cart if the person is carrying excess weight? Or stared at someone with obesity when they’re enjoying pastries at a coffee shop? I’m catching myself, wondering if I do this automatically with my ‘inside thoughts’ instead of acknowledging that obesity is a disease that happens because of genetics, environment (all that packaged and fast food that is everywhere), socioeconomics, chronic stress, poor sleep, sedentary lifestyle, etc.
People do not choose obesity and the health problems that often come with it, like diabetes and heart disease. It’s not their fault and there’s no place for shame and blame.
Weight bias: The people closest to us hurt us the most
What else struck me as crushingly sad were the well-intentioned gifts from friends. When we got one of the locked kitchen drawers open, there were cards for Valentine’s, birthday greetings and more, where those closest to the person with obesity wanted to do something supportive. There were gifts like a recipe book, a weight-loss journal and sugar-free chocolate. Sure, these appear to be thoughtful, but the underlying message is ‘hey, you need to lose weight so this should help.’ Does that actually help in any way or make someone feel loved and appreciated?
The old line of thinking that “eat less and exercise more” solves obesity doesn’t solve anything. And yet, those living in larger bodies can’t escape that messaging. There’s a significant psychological component to health that needs to be addressed and considered. As research bears out, people with obesity are at higher risk for mood disorders, anxiety and body image dissatisfaction.
Messaging reinforces societal pressure around obesity
There was a TV in the living room of the game that came on at a certain point, blaring alarm about rising obesity, flashing footage of larger people eating hamburgers. One of the “read-me” cards that were included in the puzzles noted that, “over 82 per cent of people agree that media portrayals of body image contribute to societal pressure and stigma around obesity.” Yes, we all have to do better.
What got us out of the first room into the final room was making an appointment with a healthcare provider, revealing how difficult it is for people to feel motivated to meet with a professional and risk the weight bias that might surface. The space was a clinic examination room where we just had to figure out a critical message.
As a prompt, the poster on the wall with a friendly-looking medical professional had the following: “People living with obesity who haven’t engaged professional support say that effective communication and consistent support from their care providers would increase their likelihood of working with them on a treatment plan.”
If there’s a way to offer people living with obesity support and understanding, let’s work to make it happen.