April Prunty1, M Kathleen Clark2, Amy Hahn3, Stephanie Edmonds4, Amy O'Shea5. 1. The University of Iowa, College of Nursing, 54 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; The Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Education Service Line, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, United States; The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Office of Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: april.prunty@va.gov. 2. The University of Iowa, College of Nursing, 54 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: mary-clark@uiowa.edu. 3. The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, 145 N Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: amy-hahn@uiowa.edu. 4. The University of Iowa, College of Nursing, 54 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Office of Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Center for Access and Delivery Research Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States. Electronic address: stephanie-edmonds@uiowa.edu. 5. Center for Access and Delivery Research Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States; The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: amy-oshea@uiowa.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Weight stigma is associated with several negative health issues such as anxiety, depression, maladaptive eating, and metabolic and cardiovascular disease, independent of weight and problematic for individuals of all ages and body sizes. To reduce harmful effects of weight stigma, it is imperative we accurately capture the prevalence of weight stigma in the population to better understand the magnitude of the problem. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of both enacted weight stigma and weight-self stigma and include important contextual factors such as demographic characteristics and the belief about personal controllability of body weight. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included over 3800 adults who completed an online survey that captured their experiences with weight-based discrimination, teasing and beliefs about obesity. Using multivariate logistic regression, we predicted the odds of weight stigma across demographic characteristics and beliefs about obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of weight stigma in this sample was 57%. We found that the odds of weight discrimination and teasing are higher across BMI categories and that the odds of weight self-stigma are highest among those who are categorized as overweight or obese. Additionally, the odds of weight self-stigma are higher for those who believe individuals are personally responsible for body weight. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are comprehensive and offer new information crucial to our overall understanding of weight-based stigma and discrimination. Most people have weight stigma and it is prevalent in individuals of all body sizes. This study has significant implications for research and clinical practice. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
BACKGROUND: Weight stigma is associated with several negative health issues such as anxiety, depression, maladaptive eating, and metabolic and cardiovascular disease, independent of weight and problematic for individuals of all ages and body sizes. To reduce harmful effects of weight stigma, it is imperative we accurately capture the prevalence of weight stigma in the population to better understand the magnitude of the problem. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of both enacted weight stigma and weight-self stigma and include important contextual factors such as demographic characteristics and the belief about personal controllability of body weight. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included over 3800 adults who completed an online survey that captured their experiences with weight-based discrimination, teasing and beliefs about obesity. Using multivariate logistic regression, we predicted the odds of weight stigma across demographic characteristics and beliefs about obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of weight stigma in this sample was 57%. We found that the odds of weight discrimination and teasing are higher across BMI categories and that the odds of weight self-stigma are highest among those who are categorized as overweight or obese. Additionally, the odds of weight self-stigma are higher for those who believe individuals are personally responsible for body weight. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are comprehensive and offer new information crucial to our overall understanding of weight-based stigma and discrimination. Most people have weight stigma and it is prevalent in individuals of all body sizes. This study has significant implications for research and clinical practice. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Authors: James Kite; Bo-Huei Huang; Yvonne Laird; Anne Grunseit; Bronwyn McGill; Kathryn Williams; Bill Bellew; Margaret Thomas Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2022-05-20