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In the medieval times, kings were known to indulge in magnificent feasts as a way of displaying to others their vast wealth and food supplies.

Whilst poking fun at Henry VIII’s weight would have probably resulted in your execution, you could soon now be in trouble with the law under harassment charges.

Shaming people who are classed, as "obese" is considered extremely offensive. So does that now place it under the same category as racism or sexism?

According to a recent study carried out by University College London, harassing obese people about their size does not encourage them to lose weight and could actually do the complete opposite.

As part of the study, almost 3,000 adults were asked if they had been discriminated against because of their size, including whether they had been treated with less respect, received bad service at restaurants or had been called ugly.

Out of the 3,000 adults, about 200 of them said they had experienced discrimination about their weight. Over a 4-year period, these victims had gained in the region of two pounds, whereas those who did not face such discrimination, on average lost 1.5 pounds.

The study authors claimed harmful attitudes towards obese people are one of the “last socially acceptable forms of prejudice.”

Far from motivating obese people to lose weight, being condemned only pushes them towards comfort eating.

Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Centre at University College London, noted in a statement: “Many obese patients report being treated disrespectfully by doctors because of their weight.

"Everyone, including doctors, should stop blaming and shaming people for their weight and offer support and where appropriate, effective weight-loss treatment.”

We now turn our attention to the following debates that have followed since the study:

The arguments for:

It's tough love : This doesn’t work for everyone, but some people who have their weight issues highlighted treat it as a wake up call to combat their weight, and become healthier.

Confronting those who ignore the cold hard facts about obesity : There are some obese people who ignorantly choose to disregard facts associated with obesity being unhealthy. To them, it could be see as jealousy or even a form of socially construed agenda.

Those who are blissfully unaware of their weight : There are others who don’t feel they are obese or overweight. This may be due to a lack of education, cultural factors, perception or even them feeling comfortable with their size.

Extra burden on the NHS : Reports claim over £16million is spent a year dealing with obesity related illnesses. Funds many believe could be used in improving other services. According to 2014 statistics, 58% of adults in Wales are classified as obese or overweight.

Cruelty to children : More shockingly, "more than a quarter of five year olds in Wales are overweight or obese", according to figures from public health officials in Wales. It is believed obese parents transfer their eating habits to their children. But is this always the case?

The arguments against:

Some obese people are helpless : A genetic problem or medical issue could cause many obese people to feel ashamed as they have less control over their size. Therefore, unless you’re a doctor treating the problem, you have no idea whether an obese person you see on the street is suffering from a medical issue or not.

“Only trying to help” attitude is counterproductive : When it comes to family and friends, they generally only want the best for each other. Your sibling or friend may say things like: “you’d look great if you lost a few stone.” Even if they were right, that knowledge could cause an adverse effect in the person.

Fat shaming leads to extreme behaviours : Making a joke or speaking about the topic to those very sensitive about the issue may send them over the edge. This could lead to extreme crash diets, which we know is not good for the body’s metabolism, or could make them sink into bouts of low self-esteem and even depression.

Obesity is not only a symptom of laziness or gluttony : There are too many “fat shamers” who believe that all overweight or obese people look that way due to laziness or gluttony. Problems around weight usually stem from deep-rooted psychological issues, including depression, trauma or behavioural addictions to name a few. Instead of resorting to drugs and alcohol, many obese people self-medicate with food.

In conclusion

Overall, everyone has the right to feel comfortable whatever size they may be, and no one should be made to feel bad about being a larger size compared to others.

What needs to be considered instead is people providing the facts and risks associated with being obese, so that the person can evaluate their relationship with food.

Maybe seeing it once again as fuel for the body, and not as a home of refuge from counterproductive jibes.

If you may be worried about your weight, please ensure you seek medical advice from a doctor or health professional. If you are shy about doing such, there are trusted online health clinics that provide more information and possible treatments.