Making people feel ashamed about obesity could lead them to gain weight, not lose it, suggests University College London.

 

In a study of nearly 3,000 adults over four years, those who said they had experienced weight discrimination put on more weight than those who did not.

 

Researchers said there was no evidence discrimination caused weight gain, but it could lead to comfort eating.

 

Health professionals were urged to be more supportive.

 

The study, in the journal Obesity, looked at data from adults aged over 50 ranging from normal weight to obese who had taken part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.