Internalized weight stigma, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation in postmenopausal women with obesity

To determine the relationship of internalized weight stigma with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and markers of inflammation.

Postmenopausal women with obesity (N = 101) with high or low scores on the Weight Bias Internalization Scale completed a single assessment visit. MetS components (waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and glucose) were measured, along with body mass index (BMI). Blood samples were drawn to analyze C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and myeloperoxidase. Participants completed a second measure of internalized weight stigma (Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire; WSSQ) and reported medications, demographics, depression symptoms, smoking status, and perceived stress (included as covariates).

Logistic regression showed no significant relationship between either measure of internalized weight stigma and MetS when controlling for BMI, depression, and demographics. A small, significant, positive association emerged between WSSQ scores and MetS when adding the covariate of anti-depressant medication (OR = 1.07, p = 0.040). WSSQ scores were associated with significantly greater odds of having high blood pressure (OR = 1.10, p = 0.003) and low HDL cholesterol (OR = 1.06, p = 0.030). Both measures of internalized weight stigma were associated with greater continuous blood pressure values. Inflammatory markers were not associated with internalized weight stigma in most analyses.

Some significant associations were found between internalized weight stigma and MetS components, but more research is needed to clarify these relationships.