Testing interoceptive dysfunction as a mediator of the relation between weight stigma and disordered eating

Interoceptive dysfunction could be one mechanism that facilitates the weight stigma-disordered eating association. Hence, the aim of this study was to experimentally test whether interoceptive dysfunction mediates the relation between weight stigma and disordered eating. Participants (n = 135; 80.7 % White; 72.6 % women) were college students aged 18 to 25 who reported binge eating symptoms. Participants (n = 66) were randomly assigned to interact with a confederate showing weight stigmatizing attitudes or a control condition (n = 69) where the confederate did not show stigma towards any groups. Participants then completed a behavioral measure of gastric interoception, completed an ad-lib test meal of yogurt, and lastly completed self-report measures for gastric interoception, body trust, and urges to engage in future binge eating and restriction. We tested a path model including our condition variable, behavioral and self-report measures of interoception, and disordered eating urges. Contrary to our hypotheses, exposure to weight stigma was not related to increased binge eating or restriction urges, and was related to less caloric consumption. Hence, it is possible that weight stigma leads to short-term restriction immediately following the event, which could increase risk for downstream binge eating at a later time. Regardless of condition, lower levels of self-reported body trust and gastric interoception were related to higher intentions for binge eating as well as restriction. To mitigate the potential societal harms of weight stigma, clinicians should consider incorporating interoception assessments and weight-neutral approaches to their clinical work.