Weight-related discrimination, perceived stress and psychological and physical well-being of persons with type 2 diabetes: A mediation analysis.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to examine perceived stress as a mediator of the association between weight-related discrimination and physical and psychological well-being among persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: Data were obtained from 5104 persons with self-reported T2D participating in the All of Us research programme in the United States. The Everyday Discrimination Scale, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and PROMIS Global Health Scale were used to measure weight-related discrimination, perceived stress and health outcomes (physical and psychological), respectively. Mediation effects of PSS were tested by bootstrapping with 5000 random samples. RESULTS: Participants were, on average, 63.62 (SD 11.38) years old. Majority of them were female (55.53%), non-Hispanic White (72.61%), married or living with a partner (56.92%), had a household income of <$35,000 (31.99%) and had some college education (33.54%). We found that approximately 18% of study participants reported having experienced weight-related discrimination. We also found that weight-related discrimination was independently associated with poor physical and psychological well-being. These associations were partially mediated by perceived stress such that weight-related discrimination was associated with greater perceived stress, which was in turn associated with poorer physical and psychological well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Given that weight-related discrimination is associated with poor outcomes through elevated stress, interventions that target stress may disrupt this pathway thereby helping to reduce the health impact of weight-related discrimination. This assertion should, however, be tested in future studies.

Sexual Assault Among College Women: The Role of Survivor Acknowledgment, Rape Myth Acceptance, Weight Bias, and Body Appreciation.

Approximately one in five college women experience a sexual assault (SA), though a meaningful percentage of survivors do not acknowledge or label their experience as such. Research indicates that acknowledgment status is often influenced by how closely SA incidents align with the "real rape" script and degree of survivor rape myth acceptance (RMA). However, studies evaluating acknowledgment paired with other attitudes and health outcomes among survivors is sparse. The current study examined the relation between acknowledgment status, RMA, weight-related constructs, and psychological well-being among three groups of college women (N = 584): non-survivors, unacknowledged survivors, and acknowledged survivors. Findings indicate that, among survivors, acknowledged compared to unacknowledged SA is significantly associated with diminished body appreciation, self-esteem, and increased internalized weight bias, though no differences in psychological distress were found.

Fat Shame-Inside and Out.

In this narrative medicine essay, a family medicine physician shares her personal story as someone who is obese and disabled. She talks about her own process of addressing stigma and bias around obesity and how she is now helping patients work toward improved physical function and overall health goals.

Family-based weight stigma and psychosocial health: A multinational comparison.

OBJECTIVE: Family-based weight stigma can be expressed as criticism, judgment, teasing, and mistreatment by family members because of an individual's body weight. The current study compared the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of family-based weight stigma among adult members of a weight-management program living in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, and the US. METHODS: Participants (N = 8100 adults who reported having ever experienced weight stigma; 95% female; 94% White) completed an identical online survey in their country's dominant language that assessed their experiences of weight stigma from 16 different family member sources, as well as internalized weight bias, body image, eating behaviors, perceived stress, and self-rated health. RESULTS: Family-based weight stigma, especially from mothers (49%-62%), spouses/romantic partners (40%-57%), and fathers (35%-48%), was highly prevalent across countries. Weight stigma from one's immediate family members was associated with indices of poorer psychosocial health across the six countries (ß coefficients = |0.08-0.13|). CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the need for weight stigma-reduction efforts to help family members distinguish between supportive, encouraging discourse and potentially weight-stigmatizing communication. Future research should examine the prevalence and correlates of family-based weight stigma in more diverse community samples, including among racially/ethnically and gender diverse adults, and in non-Western countries.

Weight Discrimination and Health Risk Behavior in Racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Minority Adults.

BACKGROUND: People with obesity face significant discrimination due to their weight. Exposure to such discrimination is associated with poor health outcomes. Little is known about pathways that explain that association, and even less is known about those pathways in racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities. Health risk behaviors may serve as one such pathway. PURPOSE: We examined associations between weight discrimination and health risk behaviors and assessed whether associations are moderated by gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. METHODS: Quota sampling was used to oversample Black (36%), Latino (36%), and sexual minority (29%) adults (n = 2,632) who completed an online survey. Using regression analysis, health risk behaviors (maladaptive eating behaviors, physical inactivity, sitting, smoking, alcohol use, and sleep disturbance) were predicted from previous experience with weight discrimination while controlling for demographic characteristics, BMI, and depressive symptoms. Additional analyses tested for interactions between weight discrimination and key demographic variables (i.e., gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual minority status). RESULTS: Weight discrimination was associated with greater emotional eating, binge eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, cigarette smoking, problematic alcohol use, and sleep disturbance. Gender moderated the association between weight discrimination and binge eating, alcohol use, and physical activity, with stronger effects observed in men than women. Exploratory analyses provided limited evidence for differential effects of weight discrimination across specific combinations of intersecting identities. CONCLUSIONS: Weight discrimination was associated with engagement in unhealthy behaviors and relationships were largely similar across diverse demographic groups. Health risk behaviors may represent a key pathway through which weight discrimination harms health.

People with high body weight remain one of the most stigmatized groups in the USA and face significant discrimination due to their weight. Experiencing weight discrimination is associated with poor health, yet little is known about the underlying pathways that explain this association and even less is known about those pathways in socially marginalized groups. We investigated unhealthy behavior as a possible a pathway by assessing associations between weight discrimination and several health risk behaviors and identifying whether those associations vary by gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. A diverse sample of 2,632 U.S. adults completed an online survey. Previous experience with weight discrimination was found to be associated with greater emotional eating, binge eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, cigarette smoking, problematic alcohol use, and poor sleep. The association between weight discrimination and binge eating, alcohol use, and physical activity was stronger in men than in women, yet exploratory analyses provided limited evidence for differential effects of weight discrimination across specific combinations of intersecting identities. Weight discrimination was associated with engagement in unhealthy behaviors and associations were largely similar across participants from diverse demographic groups. Health risk behaviors may represent a key pathway through which weight discrimination harms health.

Associations among enacted weight stigma, weight self-stigma, and multiple physical health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and selected health behaviors.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship among enacted weight stigma, weight self-stigma, and multiple health outcomes. Weight stigma, a stressor experienced across all body sizes, may contribute to poorer physical health outcomes by activating the nervous and endocrine system or by triggering counterproductive health behaviors like lower physical activity, maladaptive eating patterns, and delayed health care, as well as provider bias that may cause a medical concern to be discounted. While associations of weight stigma with mental health issues are well documented, less is known about its association with physical health. METHODS: We enrolled 3821 adults who completed an online survey assessing enacted weight stigma, weight self-stigma, multiple self-reported physical health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and selected health behaviors. RESULTS: After controlling for BMI, health care delay or avoidance, sedentary behavior, and selected demographic characteristics, enacted weight stigma, significantly increased the odds of six physical health problems including hypertension (OR 1.36; CI 1.08, 1.72), hyperglycemia (OR 1.73; CI 1.29, 2.31), thyroid disorder, (OR 1.65; CI 1.27, 2.13), any arthritis (OR 1.70; CI 1.27, 2.26), non-arthritic chronic pain (OR 1.76; CI 1.4, 2.29), and infertility (OR 1.53; CI 1.14, 2.05). Weight self-stigma significantly increased the odds for three physical health problems including hypertension (OR 1.43; CI 1.16, 1.76), hyperglycemia (OR 1.37; CI 1.03, 1.81), and non-arthritic chronic pain (OR 1.5; CI 1.2,1.87). Enacted stigma was associated with more than a four-fold increase in odds of believing that a medical concern was disregarded by a health care provider. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, enacted stigma and weight self-stigma were independently associated with heightened risk for multiple physical health problems, as well as, believing health concerns were discounted by providers. Reducing weight stigma may be an important component of managing multiple physical health conditions.

Association of Weight-Related Stigmas With Daily Pain Symptoms Among Individuals With Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with obesity are disproportionately impacted by pain-related symptoms. PURPOSE: This study evaluated experienced weight stigma and internalized weight bias (IWB) as predictors of pain symptoms in daily life among individuals with obesity. METHODS: Adults with obesity (n = 39; 51% female, 67% White, 43.8 ± 11.6 years old, BMI = 36.8 ± 6.7 kg/m2) completed a baseline assessment (demographics, experienced weight stigma, IWB) and a 14-day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) period involving five daily prompts of pain/aches/joint pain, muscle soreness, experienced weight stigma, and IWB. Generalized linear models were used to assess experienced weight stigma and IWB at baseline as prospective predictors of EMA pain/soreness symptoms. Multi-level models were used to test the association of momentary weight stigma experiences and IWB with pain/soreness at the same and subsequent EMA prompts. RESULTS: IWB at baseline, but not experienced weight stigma, was associated with more frequent pain symptoms (p < .05) and muscle soreness (p < .01) during EMA. Momentary IWB (but not experienced stigma) was associated with more pain/aches/joint pain and muscle soreness at the same and subsequent prompt. CONCLUSIONS: Internalized (but not experienced) weight bias was prospectively associated with pain symptoms in daily life among individuals with obesity. Results are consistent with growing evidence that weight-related stigmas represent psychosocial factors that contribute to weight-related morbidity typically attributed to body size.

Prejudice associated with weight images in health communication in the social networks / Preconceito relacionado ao peso em imagens para a comunicação em saúde nas redes sociais

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the depiction of a fat body for health communication on the Instagram social network by the national societies governing obesity management present elements that enhance weight-related prejudice, with the slim body as a reference. Methods We investigated the last publication quintile, totaling 2,155 publications. A total of 72 images were included and 99 bodies were decoded. The bodies were classified according to positive and negative characteristics into four categories (body presentation, clothing, food and moving behavior) in which the negative characteristics have the potential to enhance the prejudice. The chi-square test was applied to test the difference in the proportion of bias elements associated with body weight between the fat body and the thin body. Results The fat body was more represented (p≤0.05 for all) headless (32.3% vs 9.2%), with bare abdomen (17.6% vs 0%), with a focus on the abdomen (11% vs 0% ), with tight clothes (32.3% vs 0%), sad expression (23.5% vs 6.1%), involved with food of low nutritional value (14.7% vs 0%) and in sedentary behavior ( 11% vs 0%) compared to the thin body. Conclusion National societies that govern management of obesity presented the fat body with more negative elements that enhance the prejudice associated with excess weight, which is an important public health problem.

RESUMO Objetivo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar se a representação do corpo gordo nas imagens para a comunicação em saúde em perfis de sociedades nacionais diretivas orientadas ao manejo da obesidade na rede social Instagram apresentam elementos que potencializam o preconceito relacionado ao peso, tendo como referência o corpo magro. Métodos Foi analisado o último quintil de postagens, totalizando 2.155 publicações. Setenta e duas imagens foram incluídas e 99 corpos foram decodificados. Os corpos foram classificados em quatro categorias (apresentação do corpo, vestimenta, alimentação e comportamento de movimento) de acordo com características positivas e negativas, sendo que as negativas possuem potencial para reforçar o preconceito. O teste qui-quadrado foi aplicado para testar a diferença na proporção de elementos de preconceito relacionados ao peso entre o corpo gordo e o corpo magro. Resultados O corpo gordo foi mais representado (p≤0,05 para tudo) sem cabeça (32,3% vs 9,2%), com abdomen nu (17,6% vs 0%), com foco no abdomen (11% vs 0%), com roupa apertada (32,3% vs 0%), expressão triste (23,5% vs 6,1%), envolvido com alimento de baixo valor nutricional (14,7% vs 0%) e relacionado a um comportamento sedentário (11% vs 0%) em comparação ao corpo magro. Conclusão Sociedades nacionais diretivas ao manejo da obesidade apresentaram o corpo gordo com mais elementos negativos que reforçam o preconceito relacionado ao peso, sendo importante problema de saúde pública.

Obesidad: alternativas al paradigma pesocéntrico y patologizante. Primera entrega / Obesity: alternatives to the weight-centric and pathologizing paradigm. First part

Si bien para los médicos la obesidad es una palabra técnica, para muchas personas tiene la implicaría de un largo sufrimiento en relación a su cuerpo. Históricamente, la medicina tradicional se ha comportado como una barrera en la atención a las personas con exceso de peso debido a la gordofobia y a una perspectiva reduccionista pesocentrista. Es preocupante que las ciencias y prácticas de la salud aún tengan esta mirada sobre la gordura, ya que supone un sesgo que impide que las personas sean atendidas integralmente, vulnerando sus derechos en nombre de una preocupación médica y anteponiendo el descenso de peso frente a otras necesidades de los pacientes. Este artículo, si bien intenta modestamente abrir una reflexión filosófica sobre el cuerpo, la medicina hegemónica y la enfermedad, también tiene como objetivo brindar herramientas técnicas y no técnicas para abordar la obesidad desde otro lugar. En esta primera entrega, desarrollaremos el abordaje integral de la persona con cuerpo gordo. La segunda entrega estará enfocada en los tratamientos farmacológicos, no farmacológicos y quirúrgicos de la obesidad. (AI)

Although obesity is a technical word for doctors, it implies long-term suffering in relation to their bodies for many people. Historically, traditional medicine has behaved as a barrier in caring for people with excess weight due to fatphobia and aweight-centric reductionist perspective. It is worrying that health sciences and practices still have this view of fatness, sinceit implies a bias that prevents people from being thoroughly cared for, violating their rights in the name of medical concernand putting weight loss before other patients' needs. This article modestly attempts to open a philosophical reflection about the body, hegemonic medicine, and disease, while also aiming to provide technical and non-technical tools to approach obesity. In this first part, we will explain the comprehensive approach to the person with a fat body. The second part will focus on pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and surgical treatments for obesity. (AU)

Peer effects and health impacts of different body cognitive biases in children: micro evidence from China.

Background: In China, children commonly display body cognitive biases, which constitute a significant yet hidden public health issue. These biases potentially jeopardize children's well-being, hinder the cultivation of human capital, and impede societal progress. However, limited research employs theoretical analysis and econometric testing to investigate the formation of different body cognitive biases among Chinese children and their health impacts. Methods: Based on a local average network model for theoretical analysis, this study utilizes a sample of 4,289 children from four phases of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) conducted from 2004 to 2011. Utilizing Logit and IV Probit models, systematically evaluate the peer effect, heterogeneity of effects, and health impacts of children's different body cognitive biases. Results: (1) The peer effect contributes to the development of light- and heavy-body cognitive biases in Chinese children. (2) The heterogeneity analysis shows that the peer effect of body cognitive biases is more significant in rural and female children. (3) The influence of heavy-body cognitive bias is more pronounced in adolescent children. (4) The "eating-activity balance" is disrupted by the two body cognitive biases in children, leading to deviations from normal body type. (5) Specifically, the light-body cognitive bias leads children to intake more and burn fewer calories, increasing their risk of obesity. (6) Conversely, the heavy-body cognitive bias prompts children to intake less and expend more calories, resulting in a higher prevalence of thinness. Discussion: This study innovates by exploring peer effects on body cognitive biases in Chinese children, elucidating their direction and health implications. While overweight and obesity are recognized as overt health issues, the spread and impact of implicit issues like body cognitive biases should not be overlooked. Nevertheless, the issue is largely neglected in developing countries, such as China, where existing children's health policies are inadequate in addressing it. Promoting accurate body image perception and understanding of health prevention strategies among children requires adequate attention to peer effects.

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.

Internalised weight stigma as a mediator of the relationship between experienced/perceived weight stigma and biopsychosocial outcomes: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review studies that have assessed the mediating role of internalised weight stigma on the relationship between experienced/perceived weight stigma and any biopsychosocial outcomes. METHODS: PsycINFO, PsycExtra, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline and Embase were systematically searched. Identified studies were double screened (HB and XPG). RESULTS: Seventeen studies (across 16 articles) met our inclusion criteria (N = 21,172), and almost all studies measured only psychological outcomes (n = 15). Eight studies found consistent evidence for internalised weight stigma as a mediator of the relationship between experienced/perceived weight stigma and disordered eating outcomes. Preliminary evidence was found for the mediating role of internalised weight stigma on the relationship between experienced/perceived weight stigma and body shame, body dissatisfaction, exercise behaviour, healthcare experiences and behaviours, bodily pain and parental weight talk. However, the findings were inconsistent for depression and anxiety, although only two studies reported these. CONCLUSION: This review provides preliminary evidence for internalised weight stigma as an intervening variable in the relationship between experienced/perceived weight stigma and adverse health outcomes. Results suggest that there are potential benefits of interventions addressing internalised weight stigma to improve health outcomes. However, these findings must be considered in the context of the psychometric limitations of the Weight Bias Internalisation Scale, which was used in all but one study.

Weight bias among dietitians: does the weight status of the patients change the dietary approaches? / Viés de peso entre os nutricionistas: o status do peso dos pacientes altera as abordagens dietéticas?

ABSTRACT Objective Since obesity is a multifactorial disease, some health professionals may esteem that weight control is a matter of personal willpower and stigmatize individuals. These weight-based attitudes seem quite common even among dietitians. This study aimed to determine whether the level of weight bias affects the dietary approaches of the dietitians. Methods Two hypothetical cases with obese and normal weight vignettes were created to be evaluated, and the explicit weight bias was assessed by the fat phobia scale among 99 dietitians via an online questionnaire. Results The majority of the dietitians demonstrated mild or moderate levels of weight bias (59.6% and 32.3%, respectively). The obese vignette had the highest agreement for nearly all adjectives and was perceived as having poorer diet quality, general health status, and insufficient physical activity level. Conclusion Overall, as weight bias is a concerning issue among most dietitians, necessary steps are required for the reduction of prejudice and thus protect the patients from stigmatizing attitudes.

RESUMO Objetivo Visto que a obesidade é uma doença multifatorial, alguns profissionais de saúde podem defender que o controle de peso é uma questão de força de vontade pessoal e estigmatizam os indivíduos. Essas atitudes baseadas no peso parecem bastante comuns mesmo entre os nutricionistas. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar se o nível de viés de peso afeta as abordagens dietéticas dos nutricionistas. Métodos Dois casos hipotéticos com vinhetas de obesidade e peso normal foram criados para serem avaliados e o viés de peso explícito foi avaliado pela escala de fobia de gordura Fat Phobia Scale entre 99 nutricionistas por meio de um questionário online. Resultados A maioria dos nutricionistas demonstrou níveis leves ou moderados de viés de peso (59,6% e 32,3%, respectivamente). A vinheta de obesidade teve a maior concordância pela maioria e foi percebida como tendo a pior qualidade da dieta, o pior estado geral de saúde, e níveis de atividade física insuficientes. Conclusão Em suma, sendo esta uma questão que preocupa a maior parte dos nutricionistas e um problema que continua a afetar tantas pessoas, é urgente a criação de medidas que permitam diminuir o preconceito e proteger os pacientes de atitudes estigmatizantes.

A qualitative exploration of obesity bias and stigma in Irish healthcare; the patients' voice.

BACKGROUND: Current data indicates 70% of adults with obesity report experiencing bias and stigmatisation when engaging with healthcare. Most studies to date, have focused on weight bias from a healthcare professional's perspective. Few have explored weight bias from the perspective of the individual living with obesity and no study has conducted this research in the Irish context. AIMS: This study explored, the lived-in experience of individuals afflicted with obesity, when interacting with the Irish healthcare system. It examined whether participants encountered weight bias and stigma, if so, how it may have impacted them and gathered their suggestions on how it could be best addressed. METHODS: Employing a phenomenological approach, purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 individuals living with class II (BMI 35.0-39.9) or III obesity (BMI ≥40kg/m2) who reported regular and consistent engagement with the Irish healthcare system. Predominant emergent themes were categorised using the interview domains; (1) experiences of obesity bias and stigma, (2) impact of this bias and stigma and (3) suggested avenues to reduce bias and stigma. FINDINGS: Participants reported experiencing high levels of weight bias and stigmatisation. Relating to experiences, three themes were identified; interpersonal communication, focus of care and physical environment. In terms of its impact, there were two emergent themes; negativity towards future healthcare and escalation of unhealthy behaviours. Suggested avenues to eliminate bias and stigma included the introduction of a timely and clear clinical pathway for obesity management and a focus on HCPs education in relation to obesity causes and complexity. CONCLUSIONS: Outside of specialist obesity tertiary care, weight bias and stigmatisation is commonly reported in the Irish healthcare system. It is a significant issue for those living with obesity, detrimental to their physiological and psychological health. A concerted effort by HCPs across clinical, research and educational levels is required to alleviate its harmful effects.

International comparisons of weight stigma: addressing a void in the field.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite substantial evidence documenting weight stigma toward people with higher body weight, international comparative studies are lacking in this field. The few studies that have compared weight stigma across different countries focus on explicit weight-biased attitudes rather than people's experiences of weight stigma. The present study conducted a multinational systematic comparison of weight stigma in six countries to assess experiences and interpersonal sources of weight stigma. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Adults (N = 13,996) enrolled in WW International (formerly Weight Watchers), residing in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, and the US completed identical online anonymous surveys in the dominant language for their country. Surveys assessed their history of experiencing weight stigma, the onset of stigmatizing experiences and associated distress from stigma in different time periods, and interpersonal sources of weight stigma. RESULTS: More than half of participants (55.6-61.3%) across countries reported experiencing weight stigma. Participants with higher BMI were significantly more likely to report weight-stigmatizing experiences than individuals with lower BMI. In all countries, weight stigma experiences were most frequent in childhood and adolescence, with associated distress highest during these time periods. Participants in Germany reported a higher frequency of weight stigma across their whole life, but lower distress associated with stigmatizing experiences, compared to participants in the other five countries. High percentages of participants in each country experienced weight stigma from family members (76.0-87.8%), classmates (72.0-80.9%), doctors (62.6-73.5%), co-workers (54.1-61.7%), and friends (48.8-66.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Weight stigma is prevalent for adults actively engaged in weight management across different Western countries. There were more similarities than differences in the nature, frequency, and interpersonal sources of people's experiences of weight stigma across the six countries in this study. Findings underscore the need for multinational initiatives to address weight stigma and interventions to support individuals engaged in weight management who experience weight mistreatment.

Eating and Exercise-Related Correlates of Weight Stigma: A Multinational Investigation.

OBJECTIVE: Weight stigma is prevalent across the world. However, little is known about whether and how the harmful health consequences of weight stigma may vary across countries. The current study examined the association between experiences of weight stigma and multiple eating and exercise-related indicators among a large, multinational sample of adults. METHODS: Adults enrolled in an international weight management program residing in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States completed identical Web-based surveys in the dominant language for their country. Participants (N = 13,996) reported on their personal experiences of weight stigma and health, including eating behaviors, attitudes toward exercise, and perceived stress. RESULTS: More than half of all participants in each country reported experiencing weight stigma. Participants who had experienced weight stigma reported engaging in more eating to cope, gym avoidance, and self-monitoring behaviors, as well as higher levels of stress and reduced eating self-efficacy. These associations were documented over and above sociodemographic characteristics and BMI and did not vary across countries. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings document uniform health-related correlates of weight stigma within a multinational context and underscore the need for global initiatives to curtail weight stigma in order to support population health.

The roles of weight stigma, emotion dysregulation, and eating pathology in suicide risk.

Using an interpersonal theory of suicide and affect regulation framework, we investigated the relationships between perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, weight stigmatization, emotion dysregulation, eating pathology, and suicide risk. Three main hypotheses were investigated. First, we predicted a positive linear relationship between weight stigmatization and risk. Second, an indirect effect of weight stigmatization on risk via perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness was posited. Third, we hypothesized that weight stigmatization would indirectly affect suicide risk via emotion dysregulation and eating pathology. Undergraduates (N = 156) completed online surveys. Linear regressions and indirect effect analyses were performed. Weight stigmatization was directly, positively associated with increased suicide risk. Weight stigmatization indirectly affected suicide risk via perceived burdensomeness but not thwarted belongingness. Higher stigmatization was associated with higher levels of perceived burdensomeness, which was associated with higher risk. An indirect effect of weight stigmatization on suicide risk through emotional dysregulation emerged. Higher weight stigmatization was associated with higher emotional dysregulation, which was associated with higher suicide risk. When all models were combined, only an indirect effect via perceived burdensomeness remained. Our findings may have clinical and public health implications for suicide prevention among people with weight stigma-related risk factors.

Buffering anti-fat attitudes using contact: The roles of contact quantity, duration, favorability, and intergroup anxiety.

Decades of intergroup contact research have found that contact with outgroups reduces negative attitudes. Yet, few studies have examined the association between contact and anti-fat attitudes. Furthermore, testing different facets of contact, namely contact quantity versus contact duration, provides more precise theoretical predictions for their effectiveness in this under-tested context. This study examined whether intergroup anxiety was indirectly related to and contact favorability moderated the relationship between contact and anti-fat attitudes, tested through the constructs of contact quantity (i.e., how many individuals interacted with) and contact duration (i.e., how often time was spent). Undergraduates (N = 343; 260 women) based in the United States completed an online survey assessing intergroup contact, contact favorability, intergroup anxiety, and anti-fat attitudes. Analyses of conditional indirect effects showed that longer contact but not more contact reduced intergroup anxiety, which lowered anti-fat attitudes. The indirect paths for both contact types were not conditional upon contact favorability. Contact favorability moderated the association between contact duration and anti-fat attitudes such that longer and more favorable contact lowered anti-fat attitudes. Findings are discussed within the contact hypothesis, and future research should explore the distinct elements of the hypothesis as applicable to anti-fat prejudice in in-person and online contexts.

The role of social exposure in predicting weight bias and weight bias internalisation: an international study.

BACKGROUND: Whilst the consequences of weight bias and weight bias internalisation (WBI) have been explored, less is known about the factors contributing to their development. Some research has explored the role of social exposure in weight bias and WBI but has been limited in its definition of exposure and focused solely on western countries. The present study therefore aimed to assess the role of social exposure defined in terms of both population and personal exposure in predicting weight bias and WBI, in an international sample. METHODS: Participants (N = 1041) from 33 countries, aged 18-85 years completed online measures of demographics, weight bias, WBI, and population and personal social exposure. Population exposure was defined using national obesity prevalence data from the World Health Organisation to classify countries as low (obesity rates ≤19.9%; n = 162), medium (20.0-29.9%; n = 672) or high prevalence (≥30%; n = 192). Personal exposure was defined in terms of personal contact and health and attractiveness normalisation. RESULTS: Using regression analysis, greater weight bias was significantly predicted by being younger, male, less educated, and personal exposure in terms of normalisation beliefs that thinner body types are healthier and more attractive, greater daily exposure and overall exposure to thinner friends. The strongest predictors of weight bias (adj R2 = 13%) were gender (ß = -0.24, p < .001), and personal exposure in terms of normalisation beliefs that thinner body types are more attractive (ß = -0.13, p = .001). The strongest predictors of WBI (adj R2 = 6%) were attractiveness normalisation (ß = -0.23, p < 0.001) and participants' perceived body shape (ß = -0.27, p < 0.001). Population exposure did not predict either weight bias or WBI. CONCLUSIONS: Personal exposure is more important than population exposure in predicting both weight bias and WBI. Findings hold implications for improving the wellbeing and lived experiences of those living with overweight and obesity.

Uncovering men's stereotype content (warmth and competence) associated with a representative range of male body size categories.

Research indicates that 40 % of men experience weight-related stigmatization. Yet perceptions of body size continue to be understudied in men and the stereotype content of men's weight status remains largely unknown. Grounded in Stereotype Content Model, the research aims to uncover men's stereotype content associated with distinct body sizes. A pilot study tested the methodological design using a representative measure of BMI-specific images among a sample of undergraduate men (N = 80). Study 1 included the BMI-specific images to assess stereotype content among a broad online sample (N = 142) and explored how participant BMI relates to such perceptions. Study 2 included images of real men to increase the ecological validity of our findings (N = 152). We also included empathy and protestant ethics to examine possible interaction effects. Results revealed that normal to overweight men scored highest on warmth and competence, while underweight and obese classes were perceived less favorably and, evidently, stereotype perceptions were increasingly severe with adiposity. Empathy moderated evaluations of warmth toward stigmatized groups, and protestant ethics moderated warmth appraisals for underweight and normal weight targets but did not influence perceptions of competence. Overall, weight stereotype content should be considered when understanding stigma-related experiences in men.