People facing discrimination because of their size may be more likely to put on weight, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity.

Weight discrimination, sometimes termed as “fat shaming” has often been more commonly perceived as a way of helping people shift pounds, but researchers from the University College London have conducted research to nullify such a standpoint.

In fact, the experts found that making overweight people feel bad about the way they look could be more likely to contribute to them comfort eating and therefore putting on more weight in the process.

One explanation for the theory is that stress produced by being discriminated against can often spur an increased appetite for energy-dense and often unhealthy foods.

The researchers made the findings after observing 3,000 UK adults over four years, observing that the five per cent of people in the group who experienced weight discrimination gained on average around 0.95kg over the period.

This came in stark contrast to the group of people who experienced no discrimination over the four years, as they actually ended up losing an average of 0.71kg.

The findings provide more intriguing ideas to bring into the current discourse around the UK’s growing obesity problem, with one medical director at the Nuffield Health group suggesting that doctors need to become more proactive in prescribing exercise and weight management programmes, while also disregarding any possible hurt feelings when discussing weight issues with patients.

Other experts have alluded to the fact that obesity should be considered as a lifestyle condition and said that more study is needed to help set out guidelines to stop poor lifestyle habits being created.

At the core of most arguments, however, is a belief that more needs to be done to make people more physically active to reduce harmful sedentary lifestyles, with one piece of research highlighting that fitness, not food, will hold the key to solving the country’s current obesity crisis.