2026 IJRSE – Volume 15 Issue 2
Available Online: 22 February 2026
Author/s:
Galano, Abegail C.*
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Philippines (chanabegail86@gmail.com)
Chan, Allyza L.
Saint Louis College, San Fernando La Union, Philippines (2320005@slc-sflu.edu.ph)
Abstract:
This qualitative phenomenological inquiry elucidates the lived experiences of social stigmatization concomitant with corpulence among ten corpulent students (aged 19-40 years) at Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Sta. Maria Campus, Philippines. In the context of escalating obesity rates, wherein 40.2% of Philippine adults were overweight or obese in 2021, emotional eating of palatable comfort foods, precipitated by affective states, engenders corpulence and subsequent stigmatization, as theorized through psychoanalytic, attachment, psychodynamic, looking glass, and social learning frameworks. A purposive sampling strategy informed participant selection, with data elicited via semi-structured interviews conducted in Ilocano and Tagalog. Audio recordings were transcribed in verbatim and subjected to rigorous cool analysis (extraction of significant statements) and warm analysis (thematic synthesis), buttressed by methodological triangulation to enhance credibility and dependability. Thematic analysis identified four linked themes. Stigma appeared mainly as verbal teasing, cyberbullying, public humiliation, and discrimination, leading to shame, depression, chronic insecurity, and social withdrawal. Emotional eating served as a coping mechanism for negative and positive emotions, reinforcing the cycle of weight gain and stigma. Resilience emerged through self-acceptance, family support, and health-focused efforts. Findings reveal a harmful cycle: short-term comfort from emotional eating worsens weight gain, heightens stigma, and increases psychological harm in a culture with strong weight bias. Recommendations include campus anti-bullying measures, therapy for emotional regulation, and public campaigns for body inclusivity.
Keywords: corpulence, comfort food, emotional eating, social stigmatization, phenomenology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26062
Cite this article:
Galano, A. C., & Chan, A. L. (2026). Comfort food will strike a mood: Understanding social stigmatization associated with corpulence. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 15(2), 239-248. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26062
* Corresponding Author