Department of Education

PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY

Senior High School Division

The Effects of Body Shaming on Mental Health of Philippine

College of Advanced Arts and Technology students A.Y 2022-2023

In Partial Fulfillment of Requirement in

Research Project

GROUP MEMBERS

Summer Ann F. Herran

Jhezare B. Denosta

CathyrineRaoulyn J. Reyes

Ryzza A. Alferez

Joanna Wenzie L. Mariano

Angelica C. Realingo

Dianne A. Clemente

Jeanne HazelJayme

Rocelyn B. Villarino

Valerie Anne A. Avila

RejonceYhuna A. Rodriguez
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

Rose Ann Berdan

CherelynMadriaga

Rafael Andre T. Gumogda

Jenrey Paul R. Edo

SUBMITTED TO:

Ms. Donna Romero

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to acknowledge our friends, classmates, for

their help to finally made this research, without your help, we

can’t finished and develop it. Thank you for the tips, guidance

and patience you all invested in this project, the time and

excellence you poured out to become this paper more knowledgeable

and convenient to our target readers.Secondly, we would like to

thank our teachers who guide and teach us to this paper,

especially to our Miss Donna Romero for checking and correcting

our wrongs in order to make our paper to be more convenient and

full satisfaction for the readers.

To our Family, for their fully supports and dedication to

guide and help us if needed. For thecourage you gave to us when

we are emotionally exhausted. Thank you for strengthening our

fights in the midst of our downfall. And lastly, thank our

almighty GOD for giving us the strength, knowledge, courage, and

power
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

To take and complete this paper peacefully. We are so much

grateful to him for guiding us into our success and for letting

us to reach the very end of our paper. No words can really

describe how thankful we are to have all of you as the part of

our life. We hope that you all have a better and good days ahead.

Again, thank you and you are all appreciated.

ABSTRACT

Body shaming is the act of expressing shame about another

individual's body shape or size that can result in severe

emotional trauma, especially at a young age. Body shaming is

serious and has a huge negative impact on a person's physical and

mental health. Extensive levels of body shaming can have negative

emotional effects, including reduced self-esteem and other issues

such as eating disorders, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and

depression. This study aims to investigate the effects of body

shaming on the mental health of the PCAAT. This study used a

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

quantitative method where a set of questionnaires

about body shaming were randomly

Distributed to PCAAT students and teachers but due to the

covid-19 pandemic the interview was held through social media

and/or limited interviews.

A total of 40-50 target respondents to the questionnaire

will be further analyzed by using transcribe and video recording

with the approval and knowledge of the participants. Our findings

here show that respondents agree that being fat, being thin, and

having a body weight that is disproportionate to their

XX

Corresponding body size and height are the reasons why

people experience depression, social anxiety and emotional

trauma. The analysis further revealed that people feel anxious

when others talk about their appearance. Many respondents also

stated that they are treated differently and feel uncomfortable

or embarrassed in public situations where other people focus on

their appearance.
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

The results also show that body shaming has a

very negative effect on a person not only on their mental health

but also on their physical health. The purpose of this study is

to present the

Results of the students and teachers in PCAAT who were affected

by this study so that the researcher can create awareness through

social media on how body shaming affects an individual and ways

to cope with body shaming. Hence, future researchers need to

spread public awareness so that people will stop body shaming

because it is a very dangerous act and can affect a person's

mental and physical health. 

Keywords: Body Shaming, Emotional affect, Appearance, Mental

Health, Spread Public Awareness.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………… i
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

B. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………………………… ii

C. ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………… iii

D. TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………………iv

CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………

A. Background of the Study

B. Statement of the Problem

C. Hypothesis

D. Conceptual Framework

E. Scope and Limitations

F. Significance of the Study

G. Definition of Terms
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Making improper or disparaging remarks about someone's body

size or shape is known as "body shaming." If you're underweight

or in reference to a particular body part, you could also

experience "fat shaming" or other unfavorable remarks.

Your parents, siblings, friends, or even strangers may engage in

body shaming on your behalf in person or virtually via the

internet and social media. 

Comments about your diet or how much food you eat, even in

jest, are considered body shaming. Body shaming also includes

giving someone advice on diets or praising weight loss, whether

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

the latter is done consciously or not. Your

relatives and friends frequently don't mean to offend you, yet

sometimes their remarks can still be harsh. It's possible that

they are unaware of the detrimental impact.

This type of criticism can be directed at their relatives or

other people. The victim may be cruel to himself and feel self-

conscious about his appearance or weight. They may even talk

negatively to themselves, saying things like, "they need to stop

stuffing my face with food," or "they're going to feel so thick

right now."

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, body shaming is

the act or practice of humiliating a person based on their body

type by making critical and mocking statements about their body

shape and size. ANAD (2020) defined body shaming as the action or

practice of expressing humiliation about another individual's

body shape or size which is also a form of bullying that can

result in severe emotional trauma, especially at a young age.

Body shaming can create a dangerous cycle full of hatred and

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

criticism. Criticizing another person's appearance is not

the only way to body shaming, criticizing their own appearance by

comparing themselves with other people is also considered body

shaming (Vargas, 2019).

Research shows that mental health is  mainly affected when a

person experiences body shame, According to a recent study

conducted from Mind Shift Psychological Services. The stigma

surrounding weight and body type can have long-term psychological

and physical health consequences. Recent studies have shown that

people with disproportionate bodies are often stigmatized. 

Studies indicate that the effects of being body-shamed

during adolescence have short-term and long-term mental health

consequences. Several mental health issues arise from body

shaming, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and depressive

symptoms. 

          
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

When a person is body shamed, it can lead to

feelings of avoidance and choosing to isolate themselves because

of the shame they feel. There was also a note of an increase in

feelings of low self-esteem, self-image, and self-worth. Worse,

it can lead to loneliness and self-pity that can lead to

depression.

Gam et al. (2016) stated that Body shaming often leads to

low self-esteem, low body dissatisfaction, and depressive

symptoms, which is consistent with the growing body of work

emphasizing the harmful role of appearance-based harassment among

youth. Previous studies have linked shame to poor psychological

health, for example, depression. Furthermore, shame is also

related to poor physical health, indicative of deregulations of

the immune system.

          Globally, the prevalence of body shaming was found to be in

the range of 25 to 35  percent. In one previous study that was

conducted by (Gam & Singh et al., 2020) the total prevalence of

body shaming was found to be 44.9  percent. Body shaming stems

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

from several years back when ideals surrounding

women have changed. Thin women were considered more attractive

than heavier women, and men who were taller and muscular were

preferred than lanky ones. Since then, standards of beauty for

women have been generally unrealistic and unattainable.

     According to Iftitania (2021), body shame is expressed

verbally and nonverbally. Discrimination, body dissatisfaction,

and laughing at other people's body types are examples of non-

verbal manifestations of these behaviors. At the same time, the

verbal form is giving someone a bad nickname. The side effects of

receiving these treatments include insecurity, anxiety, a lack of

ability to express oneself in social situations, and unhealthy

eating patterns like binge eating. According to Islam, these

behaviors are unsavory and may bring the addressee into

disrepute.

          Additionally, body shaming can lead to unhealthy eating

habits. It can go both ways of the spectrum: eating too much to

gain weight or refusing to eat in order to lose weight.

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

This can put people at risk of suffering from an eating

disorder. 

Eating disorders are some of the most common psychiatric

problems and are classified as Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia

Nervosa (BN) and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)

in DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders 4th edition, Text revision, American Psychiatric

Association, 2000). AN is characterized by deliberate weight

loss, fear of weight gain, disturbed perception of body shape and

amenorrhea in women. BN is identified by repeated bouts of

overeating, control of body weight and the influence of weight

and body shape on self evaluation. EDNOS refers to eating

disorders not meeting criteria for either AN or BN. The

diagnostic criteria of eating disorders involve the strong

control of weight and disordered eating behaviors in addition to

the cognitive and emotional components of them. 

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

Furthermore, eating disorders are marked by medical

complications, psychosocial impairment and co-morbid

psychopathology. For instance, eating pathology increases the

risk of the onset of obesity as well as affective disorders such

as depression and substance abuse (Stice & Shaw, 2002). 

Generally, bodies come in various shapes and sizes. However,

this doesn't mean that people accidentally body shame others

without realizing it (Tschinkel, 2018). Moreover, people who are

overweight will be criticised no matter what clothes they wear or

what actions they have done. Therefore, body shaming becomes more

serious and gives huge negative effects on the physical and

mental health of a person (International Journal of Academic

Research in Business and Social 

hScience, 20222).
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

It turns out that when it comes to insulting people's bodies

there is no gender discrimination and so on. An individual's

mental health is severely impacted by such a

circumstance. In a prior study, Wang et al (2022), a victim of

body shaming may lose appetite as a result of the negative mental

health effects of cyber bullying's links with body image. 

There is a lot of things they can do to stop body shaming.

Such as embracing their own body flaws, positivity, as opposed to

body shaming, is learning to accept their own flaws and being

content with who they are and how they look. Once they have fully

accepted their physical appearance, no amount of criticism can

bring them down. And most important, is to educate those who body

shame other people. Even though it isn’t us who are being body

shamed, it is a must to confront and educate those who are body

shaming.
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

It is worst for someone to experience being

body shamed as it may possibly affect their mental health like

low self-esteem and anxiety. This is something that is unpleasant

and should be avoided because nobody should feel shame over their

weight, clothing size, or body shape.

The aim of this paper is to determine the effects of the

occurring discrimination on the body image of any gender of

senior high ABM students in Philippine College of Advanced Arts

and Technology. Discrimination which affects a person's mental

health which causes unhealthy behavior not only in their academic

performance, but also in their personal life. The researchers

chose this topic because they are concerned about the ongoing

discrimination inside PCAAT and the researchers want deepen their

knowledge about the said topic not only as a human but also as

students in the said school.

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

The researchers might not be well aware of the

discrimination inside their school because they’re only studying

through online, however, they want to be sensible about the said

issue and they also want to get the PCAAT student’s interest that

might lead them to be aware about this issue and give them

knowledge.

The reason why the researcher wants to address this study is

for everyone to understand that body shame is not only a joke but

a serious topic that needs to be addressed. Many people gain

confidence, yet everything can be destroyed by just one judgment.

The researcher wants to bring attention to this issue and give

readers more advice on what to avoid saying to someone, whether

they are skinny or big. Through this study, the researchers seek

to broaden people's perspectives on how body shame affects an

individual.
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study aimed to determine the importance of the issue of

gender-based bodily discrimination of the students in the

Philippine College of advanced arts and technology (PCAAT) the

researchers sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondent in terms od

body shaming, gender and age?

1.1 Age

1.2 Gender

2. Effects of body shaming on mental health of the students?

2.1 Eating disorder

2.2 Depression

2.3 Anxiety
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

3. What is the understanding of body shaming o metal

health of the students?

C. HYPOTHESIS
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

D. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

E. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The main focus of this study is to determine the importance of

addressing body discrimination. The main goal will be knowing the

effects of body discrimination in our mental health. Especially

in experiencing anxiety, having depression and how it affects the

person’s eating disorder. That is why researchers will gather

data and information by utilizing questionnaires to identify how

body discrimination affects a person’s mental well-being. The

data will be collected from 30 to 40 randomly selected Grade 12

ABM students of all genders at the Philippine College of Advance

Art and Technologies.

Despite the research’s objectives, there were certain

inescapable limitations. Since this is a quantitative study, we

weren’t sure we needed a large number of respondents, but since

time was of the importance, we chose to keep the number of

respondents to a manageable level.

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

Second, given that we are in our final week,

there will inevitably be some overlap with other assignments. As

a result, we must effectively manage our time in order to

accomplish our research paper on schedule.

F. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study aims to spread knowledgeable studies about the most

common Problems in society, where there are a big Impacts to

those people who experience this body shaming .To be able to

understand and open our minds, this paper made for the readers to

be open you understand this Problem.

Significance of this study is to realize and better

understand the conditions occurring in our society and to give

more action.
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

To Teachers- to help their students, guide them and

practice their minds and understandingabout this issues to ease

the case of body shaming at school.

To Parents- to guide their child and observe them incased they

experienced this kind of discrimination in school or in out, to

help them to cope up with the situation, and to be treated when

it’s affects their mental health.

To Students- to be able to deal with this Problem, to know their

boundaries and hurtful mouth, to share their knowledge how this

discrimination really makes people mentally exhausted.

To future researcher - this study helps them to get the

information they needed when they want to address this issues in

the future. This papers guide them to deal the real problems of

discrimination and a proper way to create a solution without

harming the both companies.

 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

G. DEFINITION OF TERMS

BODY SHAMING – the action or practice of humiliating someone by

making mocking or critical comments about their body shape or

size.

MENTAL HEALTH – refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional

well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave.

BODY IMAGE -Body image is a person's perception of their physical

self and the thoughts and feelings, positive, negative or both.

DEPRESSION-is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of

sadness and loss of interest.

ANXIETY-is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension,

worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood

pressure.
 Department of Education
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF ADVANCED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Senior High School Division

CYBER BULLYING-is the use of cell phones, instant

messaging, email, chat rooms or social networking sites such as

Facebook and Twitter to harass, threaten or intimidate someone.

DISCRIMINATION- treating a person or particular group of people

differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you

treat other people, because of their skin color, sex, sexuality,

etc.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE - means the outward appearance of any person,

irrespective of sex, with regard to hairstyle, beards, and

manners of dress, weight, height, facial features, or other

aspects of appearance.

EATING DISORDER-is a behavioral conditions characterized by

severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and

associated distressing thoughts and emotions.

SELF ESTEEM-is how we value and perceive ourselves. It's based on

our opinions and beliefs about ourselves, which can feel

difficult to change.