Academically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Schulz, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology.
Fat Shaming Test
Fat Shaming, Obesity Stigma, Anti-Fat Bias, or Sizeism all refer to a complex of interlinked ideas that have been broadly defined as biased or discriminatory behavior targeted at individuals because of their weight. Fat Shaming has been called “the last acceptable form of prejudice and discrimination.” Studies show that obese individuals face much stigma in society and that this stigma may have implications for their physiological and psychological health.
Are you a fat shamer? For each of the following statements, indicate your level of agreement below.
Question 1 of 31
I try to avoid making friends with fat people.
| Disagree | Agree |
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The IDRlabs Fat Shaming Test (IDR-FST©) was developed by IDRlabs International. The IDR-FST was informed by three commonly used instruments for measuring weight-related bias: The Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire, the Attitudes Toward Obese Persons Scale, and the Beliefs About Obese Persons Scale. The IDR-FST is not associated with any researchers who contributed to the above psychological tools or with their affiliated research institutions.
The IDRlabs Fat Shaming Test was informed by Crandall’s Anti-fat Attitudes Questionnaire, and Allison, Basile, and Yuker’s Attitudes Toward Obese Persons and Beliefs About Obese Persons scales. Though weight-related bias has been researched and presented in psychological literature for decades, it is only in recent years that it has garnered such widespread attention in the media and popular culture. The present Fat Shaming Test culminated in five subscales, with one additional scale that tallies the total. IDRlabs International and the present IDRlabs Fat Shaming Test are independent from any of the above researchers, related organizations, or affiliated institutions.
The Fat Shaming Test is based on three prominent tools for the assessment of this psychological construct. However, free online tests such as this are solely initial considerations of the concept being examined and cannot provide entirely accurate assessments of your personality, character, or any components of your psychological state. As the publishers of this free online fat shaming test, which allows you to screen yourself for the presence of negative beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors toward overweight people, we have strived to make the test as reliable, valid, and comprehensive as possible by subjecting this test to statistical controls and validation.
Though developed and statistically validated by professionals, free online tests such as the present Fat Shaming test do not provide professional assessments or recommendations of any kind; the test results of our free online Fat Shaming test are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only, and are therefore provided “as-is.” For more detailed information about the current test or any of our other online psychological tests, please consult our Terms of Service.
References
- Allison, D. B., Basile, V. C., & Yuker, H. E. (1991). The measurement of attitudes toward and beliefs about obese persons. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 599-607.
- Dedeli, O., Bursalioglu, S. A., & Deveci, A. (2014). Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the attitudes toward obese persons scale and the beliefs about obese persons scale. Clinical Nursing Studies, 2, 105-117.
- Flint, S. W., Čadek, M., Codreanu, S. C., Ivić, V., Zomer, C., & Gomoiu, A. (2016). Obesity discrimination in the recruitment process: “You’re not Hired!” Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 647-659.
- Vogel, L. (2019). Fat shaming is making people sicker and heavier. The Canadian Medical Association Journal, 191.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this test measure?
It measures agreement with statements that reflect negative beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors toward overweight people.
Can the result capture everything about me?
No. The score summarizes your answers to this set of questions and cannot capture every nuance of a person or their views.
How was the test developed?
It was informed by three established instruments: the Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire, the Attitudes Toward Obese Persons Scale, and the Beliefs About Obese Persons Scale.
Do I need to register or pay to take it?
No; the test is free and requires no registration.
Can my result change if I answer differently?
Yes. The result is based on your responses, so different answers can produce a different outcome.
Why Use This Test?
1. Free. This online Fat Shaming test is delivered to you at no charge and will allow you to obtain your scores on the psychological criteria that indicate negative beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors toward those who are overweight.
2. Validity and reliability. The present test is based on the AFA, ATOP, and BAOP, which are three commonly used instruments in weight-related research. The evidence published in peer-reviewed scientific journals indicates that these are reliable and valid measurements.
3. Relevant to popular culture. Recognition of the prevalence and negative consequences of weight-related prejudice and discrimination is growing. Tests such as the present fat shaming test contribute to heightened awareness of fat shaming dynamics in society.
4. Statistical controls. User results for the present test are logged into an anonymized database, and statistical analyses are performed to ensure that results are as valid and reliable as possible.
5. Created by professionals. This free Fat Shaming test was developed by research professionals experienced in psychological and personality testing.