Rebecca M Puhl1,2, Mary S Himmelstein3, Rebecca L Pearl4, Alexis C Wojtanowski5, Gary D Foster4,5. 1. Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA. 2. Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. 3. Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA. 4. Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 5. WW, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Despite elevated rates of obesity among some groups of sexual minority (SM) adults, research examining weight stigma in this population is scarce. METHODS: Weight stigma and weight-related health correlates were assessed in SM adults (N = 658) versus heterosexual adults (N = 658) matched on sex, race/ethnicity, age, education, and BMI. Adults enrolled in WW (formerly Weight Watchers) completed digital questionnaires assessing experienced weight stigma, weight bias internalization (WBI), weight cycling, eating self-efficacy, eating to cope, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). RESULTS: Survey response rates ranged from 0.8% to 3.5%. There were no differences in experienced weight stigma between SM and heterosexual participants; more than two-thirds experienced weight stigma, and more than 50% reported stigma from family, health care providers, teachers and classmates, and community members. Gay men endorsed higher WBI than heterosexual men (β = 0.22, P < 0.001). Regardless of sexual orientation, WBI was associated with poorer mental HRQOL, lower eating self-efficacy, and increased eating to cope, controlling for demographics and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing weight stigma is as common for SM adults as heterosexual adults engaged in weight management, and WBI is associated with maladaptive eating behaviors and poor mental HRQOL. Increased attention to weight stigma and its health implications in SM populations is warranted.
OBJECTIVE: Despite elevated rates of obesity among some groups of sexual minority (SM) adults, research examining weight stigma in this population is scarce. METHODS:Weight stigma and weight-related health correlates were assessed in SM adults (N = 658) versus heterosexual adults (N = 658) matched on sex, race/ethnicity, age, education, and BMI. Adults enrolled in WW (formerly Weight Watchers) completed digital questionnaires assessing experienced weight stigma, weight bias internalization (WBI), weight cycling, eating self-efficacy, eating to cope, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). RESULTS: Survey response rates ranged from 0.8% to 3.5%. There were no differences in experienced weight stigma between SM and heterosexual participants; more than two-thirds experienced weight stigma, and more than 50% reported stigma from family, health care providers, teachers and classmates, and community members. Gay men endorsed higher WBI than heterosexual men (β = 0.22, P < 0.001). Regardless of sexual orientation, WBI was associated with poorer mental HRQOL, lower eating self-efficacy, and increased eating to cope, controlling for demographics and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing weight stigma is as common for SM adults as heterosexual adults engaged in weight management, and WBI is associated with maladaptive eating behaviors and poor mental HRQOL. Increased attention to weight stigma and its health implications in SM populations is warranted.
Authors: Kimberly A Gudzune; Ruchi S Doshi; Ambereen K Mehta; Zoobia W Chaudhry; David K Jacobs; Rachit M Vakil; Clare J Lee; Sara N Bleich; Jeanne M Clark Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2015-04-07 Impact factor: 25.391