Objective:

To analyze the social representations of excess weight in Chilean adults.

Methodology:

We started from a qualitative methodology, using the technique of discourse analysis from six interviews with adult participants from the region of La Araucanía, Chile.

Results:

Four discursive positions were found: empathic due to the multicausality of the phenomenon; empathic from personal experience; critical for lack of habits and critical for health issues. In addition, four main themes or semantic spaces emerged that give structure to the discourses: weight stigma and its consequences, empowerment of the thin body, individual prejudices about people with high weight and transversal discrimination.

Limitations:

The results obtained should be considered as not generalizable, given the small size of the sample and the segment of the population it represents.

Conclusions:

For the participants, discrimination is one of the most prevalent themes within the problem of overweight and obesity. The consequences and implications of the study to carry out more conscious health interventions are discussed, as well as the importance of continuing to work to eradicate weight stigma in society.

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