Australia : A study by researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia has found losing weight as a result of surgery carries more stigma than those patients who lose weight as a result of diet and exercise.

In a paper published in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers looked at what impact the method of weight loss had on attitudes.

They found people who lost weight through diet and exercise were seen more favourably than those who had gastric banding surgery.

UNSW’s Dr Lenny Vartanian said it is well-known that, as well as suffering adverse health, overweight and obese people are often stereotyped as lazy, incompetent and lacking self-control.