Miss-Delectable
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In France, It May Become Illegal to Call Your Spouse Fat - That's Fit
As obese and overweight people know all too well, judgment about your appearance isn't always kind. But for women in France, harsh weight criticism from a partner or boyfriend could become criminal.
National Public Radio recently reported on a proposed law in France that could make it illegal to mentally abuse your loved one. The abuse could cover a range of verbal threats, including berating someone over their weight. It's not clear exactly where the line would be drawn on this issue in courts, potentially making it difficult to enforce. But it's très intéressant nonetheless.
Does it seem like a radical move? Joan C. Chrisler, professor of psychology at Connecticut College, doesn't think so. "Insulting remarks from spouses or parents are particularly likely to hurt relationships," she said. "Studies show that teasing among peers hurts and marginalizes overweight children, and comments from coaches and teachers have been reported by girls with eating disorders as the spark that ignited their anorexic or bulimic behavior."
The law has been proposed because insults in a marriage can often be a sign of a an even bigger problem. "Intimate partner violence is a big problem in most societies," said Chrisler. "Most physical abusers also abuse their partners psychologically, primarily through a pattern of insulting and demeaning comments."
For overweight and obese individuals, frequent insults can not only hurt their confidence and self-esteem -- it can compromise their chances of slimming down and getting healthier. "If self-esteem and self-confidence are undermined, it can be difficult to get motivated," said Chrisler. "To change any behavior, a person has to believe that she or he is capable of making a change. That requires confidence in oneself, which the insults (if repeated) might have lessened."
Obesity is often linked to depression, and studies have show that what you eat can even trigger the blues.
As obese and overweight people know all too well, judgment about your appearance isn't always kind. But for women in France, harsh weight criticism from a partner or boyfriend could become criminal.
National Public Radio recently reported on a proposed law in France that could make it illegal to mentally abuse your loved one. The abuse could cover a range of verbal threats, including berating someone over their weight. It's not clear exactly where the line would be drawn on this issue in courts, potentially making it difficult to enforce. But it's très intéressant nonetheless.
Does it seem like a radical move? Joan C. Chrisler, professor of psychology at Connecticut College, doesn't think so. "Insulting remarks from spouses or parents are particularly likely to hurt relationships," she said. "Studies show that teasing among peers hurts and marginalizes overweight children, and comments from coaches and teachers have been reported by girls with eating disorders as the spark that ignited their anorexic or bulimic behavior."
The law has been proposed because insults in a marriage can often be a sign of a an even bigger problem. "Intimate partner violence is a big problem in most societies," said Chrisler. "Most physical abusers also abuse their partners psychologically, primarily through a pattern of insulting and demeaning comments."
For overweight and obese individuals, frequent insults can not only hurt their confidence and self-esteem -- it can compromise their chances of slimming down and getting healthier. "If self-esteem and self-confidence are undermined, it can be difficult to get motivated," said Chrisler. "To change any behavior, a person has to believe that she or he is capable of making a change. That requires confidence in oneself, which the insults (if repeated) might have lessened."
Obesity is often linked to depression, and studies have show that what you eat can even trigger the blues.
