Abstract
The O Word: why the Focus on Obesity is Harmful to Community Health
Cohen L~~Perales D P~~Steadman C
The authors assert that focussing on issues of body weight alone negatively impacts community health overall. The mental health consequences of this focus are examined. The pervasive stigma obese individuals face is evidenced in research which has found an increased likelihood of depression, suicidal thoughts, & suicide attempts. (37 refs.)