Yes, 'fat trauma' is a real thing. Sexologist Dr Eve explains...

Aubrey Masango chats to Dr. Eve about the realities of trauma fat.

Listen below.

Overweight or obese people suffer from increased levels of trauma and anxiety because of their weight.

South Africa has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, with more than 20 million overweight adults. 

Dr Eve refers to a thought-provoking documentary by Aubrey Gordon called ‘Your Fat Friend’.

Gordon gives people a look into her life as an overweight person.

A major takeaway for Dr Eve was how society fails to accommodate overweight individuals.

“It made me think about how it is that we really live in a society that does not honour or cater to people who are fat.”

- Dr Eve

“If we look at the statistics, we realise that, almost like with disability, we discount and absolutely push aside people who are fat.”

- Dr Eve

Gordon faces discrimination every day, even at the doctor or dentist. 

Something as simple as taking a flight is anxiety-inducing. 

“Her anxiety starts before she even gets on the plane… how to get onto an airplane, how to fit into a seat, how to actually sit next to somebody who will want to be seated next to her and not ask to be moved due to the terrible stigma.”

- Dr Eve

“What happens with all of this is that overweight people would isolate, would want to disappear from the discrimination and weight stigma. Blaming themselves, feeling anger towards themselves, shaming themselves.”

- Dr Eve

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.