12 Ways We Are Made To Feel Bad About Our Weight...And Why It Hurts

As overweight people we already feel pretty bad about our bodies. However the way we're treated definitely makes us feel worse. Here are 12 things that overweight people experience which, our research shows, contribute to a vicious cycle of shame, comfort eating and weight gain.

1. We’re getting on the bus and you look horrified

We're desperate for a seat on the bus on the way home from work but spot you placing your bag on the spot beside you. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves in front of the whole carriage, so we take the hint and stand.

2. You always serve us last at the bar

We've been standing waiting to be served and trying to catch your eye for ages. It's like you can only see the slim girls stood waiting for a drink, making us feel invisible. In the end our slimmer friend goes for us and manages to get served straight away.

3. At the supermarket you make comments about our food purchases

We don't like it when you cast a critical eye over every item in our basket – we feel self-conscious enough when we're shopping for food. You think you're being helpful when you suggest trying some healthy alternatives to our chocolate biscuits (which aren't for us anyway), but you're not. We get home and feel so miserable, embarrassed and upset about being judged that we take comfort in food – our only friend.

4. You take photos of us on your mobile phone

You snigger when you turn your mobile towards us and we know full well that you're taking a photo, even while you're attempting to make it look as though you're texting. Unfortunately it's obvious what you're really doing. We feel pretty humiliated but we're far too embarrassed to say anything.

5. You shout abuse out of the car window

We're sure you and your mates find it funny, but we're shattered when a car full of people drives past us and someone shouts 'fat cow!' or 'get a salad fatty?' from the window. We bet you'll forget about it within minutes, but we won't. The words you yelled still ring in our ears days, months, even years later.

6. We’re buying clothes for a friend and you comment that the item won’t fit us

We're not buying the size 12 top for us, it's a gift, but you and your colleague snigger and make a comment about it not fitting us. Would you listen, or care, if we tried to explain?

7. We thought you fancied us, but you were just playing a game with your friends

When we find out you were only talking to us because you were playing a game while out drinking with your friends, we never want to go out again. Tonight we spent hours getting ready and it was the first time in a long time we've felt happy with how we look. We make a joke of it and laugh it off, but home alone we cry about it. We feel like we can't trust people anymore.

8. At the beauty salon you spend less time on us than everyone else

We've paid the same price for our treatment as everyone else and it's taken us more courage than most to even come to the salon, yet you've rushed through our appointment in half the time because you don't think we care about our appearance. We do care though; in fact we probably worry about our appearance even more than your slimmer clients. We don't complain or cause any fuss, just pretend everything is ok, to save face.

9. We meet you for the first time in a group, and we’re ignored over our slimmer friends

You pay so much attention to everyone else in the group, asking them a whole host of questions. We know you might be surprised to hear this, but we have interesting things to say too!

10. In job interviews, you only focus on our appearance

We go for a job interview and catch site of your notepad. We see that 95% of your notes are about our weight and appearance, and only 5% are about our abilities and qualifications. We're more than qualified but don't get the job, and never have the chance to prove ourselves.

11. We’re left out of conversations about fashion

We may be larger than the catwalk models, (most people are) but we are still interested in looking good. Leaving us out of conversations about fashion discounts us, making us feel worthless and awkward.

12. We can’t even get married without feeling judged on our size

We're ignored in the bridal shop, as if no one would want to marry someone of our size. You tell us your shop 'doesn't cater for your kind of people'; we walk out feeling heartbroken, and our excitement and joy about our big day is turned to misery and self-doubt.