Stereotypical images and implicit weight bias in overweight/obese people

In this brief report, an unanswered question in implicit weight bias research is addressed: Is weight bias stronger when obese and thin people are pictured engaging in stereotype consistent behaviors (e.g., obese-watching TV/eating junk food; thin-exercising/eating healthy) as opposed to the converse?

Implicit Associations Test (IAT) data were collected from two samples of overweight/obese adults participating in weight loss treatment. Both samples completed two IATs. In one IAT, obese and thin people were pictured engaging in stereotype consistent behaviors (e.g., obese-watching TV/eating junk food; thin-exercising/eating healthy). In the second IAT, obese and thin people were pictured engaging in stereotype inconsistent behaviors (e.g., obese-exercising/eating healthy; thin-watching TV/eating junk food).

Implicit weight bias was evident regardless of whether participants viewed stereotype consistent or inconsistent pictures. However, implicit bias was significantly stronger for stereotype consistent compared to stereotype inconsistent images.

Implicit anti-fat attitudes may be connected to the way in which people with obesity are portrayed.