title: Meaning of the terms "overweight" and "obese" among low-income women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine how low-income, US women understand the meanings of the terms "overweight" and "obese."
  
  
  METHODS
  Low-income women (n = 145; 72% white, 12% black, and 8% Hispanic; 59% obese and 21% overweight) each participated in an individual semi-structured interview during which they were asked to explain what the terms "overweight" and "obese" mean to them. Responses were transcribed and the constant comparative method was used to identify themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes emerged: (1) The terms are offensive and describe people who are unmotivated and depressed and do not care about themselves; (2) obese is an extreme weight (eg, 500 lb and being immobile); (3) being overweight is a matter of opinion; if a woman is "comfortable in her own skin" and "feels healthy," she is not overweight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health education focused on obesity should consider that vulnerable populations might consider the terms "overweight" and "obese" offensive and stigmatizing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI; Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI. Electronic address: jlumeng@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lumeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: communication; obesity; overweight; stigma; women