A qulitative research on experiencing obesity as a social problem: The case of young women, İstanbul

Obesity and fatness affect human health negatively. Their effects increase all over the world today day by day. On the other hand, they are the causes of social exclusion and stigmatization. The subject of this thesis is young women's, who are between the ages of 18-25, understandings and definitions of their own obesity and fatness. This qualitative study focuses on the body perceptions of fat women and the limitations that these young women experience in their social life. This thesis aims to make known the emotional world of fat and obese young women, the difficulties they face and the conditions they are constrained in the society. By doing these it also aims to contribute to the sociology of body literature. In this study, twenty women between the ages of 18 and 25 who were obese or fat or who had had this experience before were interviewed. The results of this fieldwork, which is conducted by using feminist methodology and in-depth interview technique, is discussed in three chapters in the thesis. As a result, it is discussed that the women who agreed to participate in the study do not want to see themselves in stereotyped definitions. The experience of obesity or fatness have a two-way effect in their relationship with their mothers. Their partners play certain roles in their experiences of fatness. These women experience certain obstacles in the public life because of their body forms.