CONSTANT criticism and ridicule of overweight people does little to motivate them to slim down.
A US report found those who were given a hard time about their weight were likely to become or remain obese.
About 14 million people are overweight or obese in Australia. If the trend continues, almost 80 per cent of all Australian adults will be overweight or obese by 2025.
Sydney weight loss motivational specialist Kylie Ryan said there was a very unhealthy attitude that being overweight was shameful and that it was acceptable to judge people on their body size.
"Repeated criticism of overweight people builds self-loathing which results in further weight gain from over-eating," she said.
"Many of the very people who are supposed to help those struggling with weight issues have no idea that their contempt is a big part of the problem."
She said that attitudes needed to change to help prevent the rise in obesity.
