The interaction between BMI, weight criticism, weight bias, and psychological and relational outcomes within marriage.

PURPOSE: To examine (1) whether a wife's BMI interacts with either her husband's weight stigma or (2) her perceived weight criticisms from her husband predict husbands' and wives' psychological and relational outcomes. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 209 currently married men and women in a heterosexual relationship. Participants were drawn from an online survey platform (Qualtrics, Inc. Provo, UT) designed to approximate the US population on age, race, and region of the country. Online measures assessed husbands' weight stigma, wives' perceived weight criticisms from husband, and husbands' and wives': (1) relationship satisfaction, (2) sexual intimacy, (3) self-esteem, (4) depressive symptoms, and (5) perceptions of a desirable or ideal mate. RESULTS: Wives' BMI interacted with husbands' weight stigma to predict (1) mate value for husbands and wives and (2) marital satisfaction for husbands. The same pattern was noted with interaction of wives' BMI and perceptions of husbands' weight related criticisms. The interaction reflected that higher wife BMI and higher husband weight stigma or wife perceived weight-related criticism predicted lower marital satisfaction, greater depression, and lower perceptions of a desirable or an ideal mate. Lower BMI was not associated with outcomes regardless of the husbands' weight stigma or wives' perceived weight-related criticisms. CONCLUSION: To understand the impact of weight stigma and weight related criticisms on perceptions of a desirable or ideal mate and marital outcomes, it is important to examine the interaction with partner's BMI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Experienced weight stigma, internalized weight bias, and maladaptive eating patterns among heterosexual and sexual minority individuals.

PURPOSE: The current study examined experienced weight stigma (EWS), internalized weight bias (IWB), and maladaptive eating patterns (ME) among sexual minority (SM) and heterosexual individuals. METHODS: The sample consisted of cisgender heterosexual and SM men and women. Participants were drawn from introductory psychology classes and a variety of supplemental recruitment methods (Facebook, Instagram, MTURK, etc.). RESULTS: SM individuals reported higher levels of EWS, IWB, and maladaptive eating patterns than heterosexual individuals. Heterosexual men reported the lowest levels of EWS, IWB, and ME compared to all other groups. Additionally, there was a significant association between greater EWS and IWB and greater ME. Gender identity and sexual orientation impacted the strength of the relationship between IWB and ME and, to a lesser extent, EWS and ME. CONCLUSION: This investigation contributes to knowledge of the impact of gender identity and sexual orientation on EWS and IWB, and demonstrates that IWB and EWS are significant concerns for the SM community, especially in relation to ME. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, cross-sectional study.

Associations between husbands' weight bias and related concerns and husbands' and wives' psychological and relationship outcomes.

The study examines married men's weight stigma, internalized weight bias (IWB) and other weight-related concerns/criticisms directed toward their wife, their perceptions of their wife as an ideal mate, and husbands' and wives' psychological distress and relationship satisfaction. The sample consisted of 209 married men and women in a heterosexual relationship. Participants were drawn from an online survey platform (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) that approximated the US population on age, race, and region of the country. Measures assessed husbands': (1) IWB, (2) weight stigma, (3) weight-related concerns/criticisms directed toward his wife, (4) relationship satisfaction, (5) sexual intimacy, (6) self-esteem, (7) depressive symptoms, and (8) perceived mate value. Husbands' weight stigma, IWB, weight-related concerns/criticisms, and perceived mate value were significantly associated with husbands' and wives' depressive symptoms, self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, and sexual intimacy. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that husbands' weight stigma and IWB were indirectly linked to husbands' and wives' relationship satisfaction and sexual intimacy through weight-related concerns/criticisms and, to a lesser extent, perceived mate value. This investigation suggests that husbands' weight stigma, IWB, and other weight-related concerns/criticisms, suggestions, and mate perceptions are strongly associated with both husbands' and wives' psychological and relationship outcomes.