Weight Stigma Affects Overweight Women, Young Adults the Most
Weight bias internalization can lead to increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; those who are at high risk include individuals who are younger, have a higher body mass index (BMI), are women, or began struggling with their weight at an earlier age, according to a new study.1
To assess the prevalence of weight bias internalization, the researchers administered an online survey to 18,769 Weight Watchers members. The survey included the 10‐item Weight Bias Internalization Scale – Modified and the Weight Self‐Stigma Questionnaire.
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As part of the survey, the participants provided details about their experiences of stigmatization due to their weight, including the onset, frequency, distress, and interpersonal sources of the stigma.
Compared with the general population, the participants had a high occurrence of weight bias internalization. The mean Weight Bias Internalization Scale – Modified score was 4.3 ± 1.4, and the mean Weight Self‐Stigma Questionnaire total score was 35.2 ± 9.7.
Women, participants who were younger, and participants who had a higher BMI were more likely to internalize the weight-based stigma. Participants whose weight stigma began in childhood (aged 10 years or older) or young adulthood (aged 20 to 39 years) or who had recent distress due to weight stigma were also more likely to have a higher predicted weight bias internalization.
Meanwhile, weight bias internalization was lower among individuals who were black, widowed, or who had a romantic partner.
Compared with other interpersonal sources of weight stigma, extended family and school sources were not as strongly associated with the internalization of weight bias.
Past research has determined that self-directed weight stigma is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. The authors of this latest study hope that their findings can help practitioners identify those who are most at-risk for internalizing society’s weight-based stigma.2
“Our findings can inform ways to support people who are experiencing or internalizing weight stigma, including opportunities to address weight stigma as part of weight management and healthy lifestyle programs,” said the study's principal investigator Rebecca Puhl, PhD, a professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Connecticut, in a press release.2
—Colleen Murphy
References:
1. Pearl RL, Himmelstein MS, Puhl RM, Wadden TA, Wojtanowski AC, Foster GD. Weight bias internalization in a commercial weight management sample: prevalence and correlates [published online July 11, 2019]. Obes Sci Pract. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.354.
2. Early and ongoing experiences of weight stigma linked to self-directed weight shaming [press release]. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania; July 15, 2019. https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2019/july/early-and-ongoing-experiences-of-weight-stigma-linked-to-self-directed-weight-shaming. Accessed July 15, 2019.