Women's Relationships With Healthcare and Providers: The Role of Weight Stigma in Healthcare and Weight Bias Internalization.

Background: Weight stigma (devaluation due to body weight) in healthcare is common and influences one's engagement in healthcare, health behaviors, and relationship with providers. Positive patient-provider relationships (PPR) are important for one's healthcare engagement and long-term health.

Purpose: To date, no research has yet investigated whether weight bias internalization (self-stigma due to weight; WBI) moderates the effect of weight stigma on the PPR.

Weight stigma is uniquely tied to maladaptive eating across different racial, ethnic, and gender groups.

Weight stigma, racism, and sexism (social devaluation due to body weight, race or ethnicity, and sex or gender), have been linked to increased maladaptive eating behaviors; however, no research has investigated the unique associations between different forms of stigma and eating concurrently. We analyzed within-group (by race/ethnicity and sex) effects of different forms of stigma on maladaptive eating behaviors to test whether there is some unique relationship between weight stigma and maladaptive eating across identities. Additionally, we explored differences by racial/ethnic group and sex, as well as BMI category, in levels of reported weight stigma, racism, sexism, and maladaptive eating.

Constant vigilance: The impact of weight stigma, vigilance, and internalization on maladaptive eating behaviors.

Objective: Weight stigma (social devaluation because of weight) and weight bias internalization (self-stigma due to weight) have been independently implicated in maladaptive eating, which ultimately contributes to poor cardiometabolic health. Additionally, vigilance (being on the lookout for social devaluation) is connected to stress, poor sleep, and depression. Most research considers these factors separately but establishing how these variables interact with one another is essential to understanding their cumulative impact on health behaviors.

The effects of an acute weight stigma exposure on cardiovascular reactivity among women with obesity and hypertension: A randomized trial.

Objective: Weight stigma induces cardiovascular health consequences for people with obesity. How stigma affects cardiovascular reactivity in individuals with both obesity and hypertension is not known.

Methods: In a randomized experiment, we assessed the influence of two video exposures, depicting either weight stigmatizing (STIGMA) or non-stigmatizing (NEUTRAL) scenes, on cardiovascular reactivity [resting blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), ambulatory BP (ABP), and ambulatory HR (AHR)], among women with obesity and high BP (HBP; n=24) or normal BP (NBP; n=25).

Democrats and independents stigmatize people with COVID-19 greater compared to Republicans.

Messaging about COVID-19 was different across the political spectrum, which influenced differences in attitudes surrounding COVID-19. This study examined the political affiliation/ideology on COVID-19 stigma (blame, deservingness of help, negative emotionality) and two mediators of this relationship: conspiracy beliefs and anxiety about COVID-19. Participants answered questions about their political affiliation and ideology, attitudes toward people who have contracted COVID-19; and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and anxiety.

Anxiety and stress over COVID-19 pandemic associated with increased eating.

Objective: Stressful experiences can dramatically affect eating. The relatively sudden, global emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic served as a massive stressor to virtually all people, regardless of infection status. This study hypothesized that actual and perceived stressors from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the categories of recurring disruptions, environmental threat, and social isolation would be positively associated with increased self-reported eating in the United States.

Weight Stigma and Diabetes Stigma: Implications for Weight-Related Health Behaviors in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

There has been little recognition that people with type 2 diabetes are vulnerable to weight stigma and diabetes stigma and almost no research examining the implications of these forms of stigma for their health and well-being. This study examined health behavior correlates of weight stigma and diabetes stigma in 1,227 adults with type 2 diabetes. Results showed that experiencing weight stigma in health care, experiencing differential treatment from others because of their diabetes, and engaging in self-stigma for diabetes and body weight were each significantly associated with increased frequency of binge eating and eating as a coping strategy to deal with negative feelings.

The roles of experienced and internalized weight stigma in healthcare experiences: Perspectives of adults engaged in weight management across six countries.

Background/objectives: Considerable evidence from U.S. studies suggests that weight stigma is consequential for patient-provider interactions and healthcare for people with high body weight.

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.

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.

Prevalence and correlates of weight bias internalization in weight management: A multinational study.

Weight bias internalization (WBI) is an understudied form of internalized stigma, particularly among treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity. The current study surveyed 13,996 adults currently engaged in weight management in the first multinational study of WBI. From May to July 2020, participants in six Western countries completed the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) and measures of weight change, health behaviors, psychosocial well-being, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Weight stigma and diabetes stigma in U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes: Associations with diabetes self-care behaviors and perceptions of health care.

Aims: Diabetes stigma and weight stigma have been identified as important but neglected issues that warrant attention among people with type 2 diabetes. This study assessed associations of diabetes stigma and weight stigma with diabetes self-care behaviors and health care in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: U.

Coping with Weight Stigma Among Adults in a Commercial Weight Management Sample.

Background: Coping responses to weight stigma can adversely affect health. Using data from a large commercial weight management sample, this study examined how adults cope with weight stigma, relationships among experienced weight stigma, weight bias internalization, and coping, as well as coping strategies as mediators of the stigma-health relationship.

Method: Participants were adults enrolled in WW (formerly Weight Watchers) who reported at least one lifetime experience of weight stigma (N = 11,924).

Weight Stigma and Weight-Related Health: Associations of Self-Report Measures Among Adults in Weight Management.

Background: Weight stigma impairs health. Few studies have disentangled the associations of experienced versus internalized stigma with weight-related outcomes.

Purpose: To examine weight and health variables associated with weight stigma experiences and internalization in the largest-to-date sample of adults in weight management.

Distressed or not distressed? A mixed methods examination of reactions to weight stigma and implications for emotional wellbeing and internalized weight bias.

People react to, and are affected by, stigmatizing experiences in different ways. The current study examined different reactions to weight stigma to identify who may be vulnerable to lasting distress from these experiences. Using a mixed methods approach, this study compared qualitative descriptions of reactions to experiences of weight stigma in conjunction with quantitative measures of weight bias internalization (WBI) and other health indices.

Weight stigma as a psychosocial contributor to obesity.

Weight stigma is a key aspect of the lived experience of individuals with obesity, and adversely affects health. This article provides an overview of recent evidence examining links between experiences of weight stigma and weight-related behaviors and health (e.g.

Weight Stigma Among Sexual Minority Adults: Findings from a Matched Sample of Adults Engaged in Weight Management.

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).

Overlooked and Understudied: Health Consequences of Weight Stigma in Men.

Objective: A substantial amount of literature has suggested that weight stigma impairs health. Evidence on gender differences in weight stigma has been mixed, but studies of weight stigma within men have been primarily absent from the literature.

Methods: In two samples of men recruited nationally from across the United States (N = 1,753), participants completed self-report measures assessing their height, weight, demographics, weight stigma (experienced and internalized), psychological well-being (depression), health behaviors (sleep, alcohol, smoking, binge eating, dieting, physical activity), and self-rated health.

Weight-based victimization, eating behaviors, and weight-related health in Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents.

Weight-based victimization (WBV) is a common form of bullying associated with maladaptive eating, and poor weight-related health. Although sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience a number of eating and weight-related health disparities, the link between WBV and these outcomes has not been investigated in this vulnerable population. Data came from the LGBTQ Teen Study, a national survey of SGM adolescents.

Weight-based victimization among sexual and gender minority adolescents: Implications for substance use and mental health.

Objective: Weight-based victimization (WBV) involves being the target of intentional physical, verbal, or psychological harm because of one's body weight. Youth experience harmful health consequences from WBV, but this literature has neglected sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth, despite their high rates of overweight and obesity, and mental health problems. The present study assessed health behaviors (substance use), self-rated health, perceived control over stressors, depressive symptoms and self-esteem as a function of WBV in a large, national sample of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) adolescents.

The role of weight stigma in parental weight talk.

Background: Many parents engage in "weight talk" with their child, such as encouraging their child to lose weight or making comments about their own weight or others' weight. What parents say to their children about weight can affect children's well-being, yet little is known about parental characteristics that may be at play regarding this common practice.

Objectives: This study examined the role of weight stigma in parental weight talk, and whether internalized weight bias mediates the relationship between parents' experiences of weight stigma and weight-based conversations and comments.

Weight-based victimization among sexual and gender minority adolescents: Findings from a diverse national sample.

Objectives: Children and adolescents with overweight and obesity are vulnerable to weight-based victimization. Research on weight-based victimization and sexual identity have been largely isolated from one another; little is known about the nature of weight-based victimization in sexual and gender minority (SGM: eg, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) youth. Our study is the first to examine the nature, extent, and sources of weight-based victimization in a large sample of SGM adolescents.

Weight Bias Internalization Among Adolescents Seeking Weight Loss: Implications for Eating Behaviors and Parental Communication.

Emerging evidence has demonstrated a high prevalence of weight bias internalization (WBI) among adults, as well as consistent links between internalization and adverse psychological and physical health. However, research examining WBI in youth and its impact on their health is scarce, especially among youth seeking weight loss treatment who may be particularly vulnerable to weight stigma from peers and parents. To address this research gap, the present study assessed WBI in a weight loss treatment-seeking sample of adolescents, examining associations between internalization and adolescents' eating behaviors and parental weight-related communication.

A Word to the Wise: Adolescent Reactions to Parental Communication about Weight.

Background: With high rates of adolescent obesity, many parents are talking to adolescents about their body weight. Parental "weight talk" is linked with adverse health behaviors in youth, but we know little about what parents say in these conversations. Using a weight loss treatment-seeking sample of adolescents, the present study assessed adolescents' emotional reactions to words their parents use to describe their weight and preferred language for these interactions.