Weight Stigma Related to Pregnancy: A Concept Analysis

Area of Science:

• Obstetric Nursing
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Weight stigma is a growing societal concern, particularly affecting pregnant individuals with overweight or obesity.
• A universally accepted definition for weight stigma during pregnancy is currently lacking.
• This gap hinders the development of effective nursing research in the obstetric setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a consensus definition of weight stigma specific to pregnancy.
• To develop a definition that supports valid and reliable nursing research.
• To address weight stigma within the obstetric care environment.

Main Methods:

• Employed Walker and Avant's established concept analysis methodology.
• Utilized an iterative approach to refine the definition.
• Focused on conceptual clarity and robustness for research application.

Main Results:

• A shared definition of pregnancy weight stigma was presented.
• A refined definition was developed for use in nursing research.
• The definition aims to enhance the validity and reliability of studies on this topic.

Conclusions:

• The proposed definition provides a foundation for future nursing research on pregnancy weight stigma.
• Standardizing the definition will improve the quality and comparability of research findings.
• Addressing weight stigma is essential for improving maternal health outcomes in obstetric settings.