OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN TARGETED FOR BULLYING

According to a recent article, at least one study has found that overweight children are bullied at rates five times higher than those who are not overweight. The lead author of the study, which was published in the journal Pediatrics, says that there’s an assumption among these kids that they deserve to be treated badly because of their weight. In addition, anti-bullying laws don’t apply to this issue in most states; California and Florida are two exceptions. Learn more about why overweight children are targeted for bullying and what can be done about it on mercurynews.com.

The Problem

According to a study done by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, nearly one in five children in the U.S. is obese, putting them at risk for a host of chronic health problems. Being overweight can make children feel isolated and different from their peers, which can lead to bullying. Unfortunately, this type of bullying can be very difficult to stop.

How People Respond to the Problem

Unfortunately, overweight children are often the target of bullying. This is because people tend to judge those who are different from them. In this case, the difference is weight. People who are overweight are often seen as lazy, weak, or stupid. This is not true, but it doesn’t stop people from bullying them. According to the article on mercurynews.com, there are a few things we can do to help reduce bullying of overweight children. First, we can educate others about the issue. Second, we can stand up for those who are being bullied. Third, we can be supportive of these kids and share our own personal experiences with them. Finally, when we see someone bullying an overweight child, even if it’s just one person doing it, we should tell them to stop what they’re doing.