Janet A Lydecker1, Elizabeth Cotter2, Carlos M Grilo1,3. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 2. Department of Health Studies, American University, Washington, DC, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examined associations of different aspects of weight bias, which can include negative attitudes toward and beliefs about obesity, with eating/weight-related psychopathology. METHODS: Participants (N = 544) were White (n = 376) and Latino (n = 168) men living in the United States who completed an online battery of established measures of weight bias (both attitudes toward and beliefs about obesity) and eating/weight-related psychopathology. RESULTS: Among White men, negative attitudes toward obesity were associated significantly with dietary restraint, overvaluation of weight/shape, and body dissatisfaction, whereas among Latino men, negative attitudes toward obesity were associated significantly with overvaluation of weight/shape. Among White men, less negative attitudes toward people with obesity were associated with decreased use of compensatory behaviors, and weaker beliefs about the controllabilty of obesity were associated with decreased overeating and binge eating. Among Latino men, neither attitudes about people with obesity nor beliefs about the controllability of obesity were associated with eating-disordered behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Weight bias was related to eating/weight-related psychopathology in men, with fewer associations observed among Latino men than White men. This highlights that associations with psychopathology may vary by ethnicity. Future research is needed to clarify the mechanism by which weight-biased attitudes and beliefs are associated with eating/weight-related psychopathology and why this might differ between White and Latino men.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined associations of different aspects of weight bias, which can include negative attitudes toward and beliefs about obesity, with eating/weight-related psychopathology. METHODS:Participants (N = 544) were White (n = 376) and Latino (n = 168) men living in the United States who completed an online battery of established measures of weight bias (both attitudes toward and beliefs about obesity) and eating/weight-related psychopathology. RESULTS: Among White men, negative attitudes toward obesity were associated significantly with dietary restraint, overvaluation of weight/shape, and body dissatisfaction, whereas among Latino men, negative attitudes toward obesity were associated significantly with overvaluation of weight/shape. Among White men, less negative attitudes toward people with obesity were associated with decreased use of compensatory behaviors, and weaker beliefs about the controllabilty of obesity were associated with decreased overeating and binge eating. Among Latino men, neither attitudes about people with obesity nor beliefs about the controllability of obesity were associated with eating-disordered behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Weight bias was related to eating/weight-related psychopathology in men, with fewer associations observed among Latino men than White men. This highlights that associations with psychopathology may vary by ethnicity. Future research is needed to clarify the mechanism by which weight-biased attitudes and beliefs are associated with eating/weight-related psychopathology and why this might differ between White and Latino men.
Authors: Robert A Carels; Kathleen M Young; Carissa B Wott; Jessica Harper; Amanda Gumble; Marissa Wagner Oehlof; Anna Marie Clayton Journal: Ann Behav Med Date: 2009-06-23
Authors: Katri K Cornelissen; Lise Gulli Brokjøb; Jiří Gumančík; Ellis Lowdon; Kristofor McCarty; Kamila R Irvine; Martin J Tovée; Piers Louis Cornelissen Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-05-06
Authors: Stephanie G Kerrigan; Meagan M Carr; Jessica L Lawson; Janet A Lydecker; Carlos M Grilo Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2022-02-02 Impact factor: 3.008