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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
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Weight discrimination, anticipated weight stigma, and disordered eating.
Jeffrey M Hunger1, Dorian R Dodd1, April R Smith1
1Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States of America.
Eating Behaviors
|May 22, 2020
Summary
Weight discrimination increases disordered eating symptoms, with anticipated weight stigma acting as a key mediator. Understanding this link is crucial for developing effective interventions for eating disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Weight discrimination is a known risk factor for disordered eating.
- The mechanisms linking weight discrimination to disordered eating require further investigation.
- Anticipated weight stigma may mediate other health outcomes related to weight discrimination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if anticipated weight stigma mediates the relationship between weight discrimination and disordered eating symptoms.
- To extend previous findings on anticipated stigma to the context of disordered eating.
- To investigate this association in a non-clinical adult sample.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study with 297 US adults recruited via SocialSci.
- Self-report online surveys assessed weight discrimination, anticipated weight stigma, and eating disorder symptoms.
- Statistical analyses controlled for gender, BMI, and self-perceived weight status.
Main Results:
- Weight discrimination was indirectly associated with greater disordered eating symptoms.
- This indirect association was mediated by anticipated weight stigma.
- The findings remained significant after controlling for demographic and anthropometric variables.
Conclusions:
- Anticipated weight stigma plays a significant role in the link between weight discrimination and disordered eating.
- This research highlights the importance of addressing anticipated stigma in interventions.
- Further research with stronger causal designs is recommended to confirm these findings.
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