The Sociological Aspect of ObesityABSTRACTMuch has been written to explain the medical aspect of obesity, but little attention has been paid to understanding the sociological aspect of the epidemic. This research attempts to understand the sociological aspect of obesity by examining the socio-cultural, gender and psycho-social effects and includes the different perceptions of the epidemic as well as what is considered acceptable in the society in which we live. In American culture, obesity is seen as an anomaly and a bodily deviance that must be corrected. Obesity has in fact become one of the most stigmatizing body characteristics in our culture (Brink, 1994). In Western culture, thinness does not just mean body size, but is associated with qualities such as being healthy, attractive, and in control. Conversely, a fat body is seen as a sign of poor health, inefficiency and lack of personal will (e.g. Kissling, 1991; Ogden, 1992; Cooper, 1998). Recent research has shown that the social stigma associated with obesity can have serious consequences for an obese individual through discrimination in central areas of life such as education, healthcare and employment. In relation to gender, the stigma associated with obesity is not the same for men and women. Research has clearly shown that obesity is more stigmatizing for women and that obese women are discriminated against more than men because of their weight (Puhl & Brownell, 2001). The psychosocial aspect of obesity is often overlooked. The psychosocial problems associated with obesity are generally evident and can often result from discrimination (conscious and subconscious) against obese people. The researchers found that low self-esteem was associated with...... half of the paper ......9/12/788">http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/full/9/ 12/788.