SCHOOL INCLUSION AND FATPHOBIA: POSSIBILITIES FOR COPING

Abstract

Objective: To know how fatphobia is treated in municipal schools in a city on the coast of Pará and to understand how teachers see the Growing Healthy Program, which aims to combat childhood obesity. Childhood obesity and fatphobia, which consists of the aversion or repudiation of fat people, need to be understood in the school environment, due to the devastating consequences on the self-esteem, self-confidence, health and quality of life of the obese child, as well as on school and integral development. Methodology: exploratory descriptive study, carried out with teachers from municipal schools who answered an online questionnaire prepared on Google forms, whose link was disclosed by email or whatsapp. Results: 24 teachers participated voluntarily. The data were treated by means of descriptive statistics and the essay answers by content analysis. The results show that most teachers know the term fatphobia, are concerned and have already experienced the phenomenon. 79% of teachers do not know about the Healthy Growth Program and are unaware that the school where they work is part of the program. The teachers who know him emphasized the importance of some of the program's actions, such as encouraging healthy eating and improving quality of life. Conclusion: The school is an important place for coping with childhood obesity, as well as for welcoming, understanding and respecting children who have this condition. It is a primary condition that an impediment to attitudes that correspond to fatphobia is established and that the child can have his or her self-confidence and self-esteem developed in the school environment.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2024.027-001