Weight-based stigmatization, psychological distress, & binge eating behavior among obese treatment-seeking adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations between weight-based stigmatization, psychological distress, and binge eating behavior in a treatment-seeking obese sample. METHODS: Ninety-three obese adults completed three questionnaires: 1) Stigmatizing Situations Inventory, 2) Brief Symptoms Inventory, and 3) Binge Eating Questionnaire. Correlational analyses were used to evaluate the association between stigmatizing experiences, psychological distress and binge eating behavior. RESULTS: Stigmatizing experiences predicted both binge eating behavior (R(2)=.20, p<.001) and overall psychological distress (R(2)=.18, p<.001). A substantial amount of the variance in binge eating predicted by weight-based stigmatization was due to the effect of psychological distress. Specifically, of the 20% of the variance in binge eating accounted for by stigmatizing experiences, between 7% and 34% (p<.01) was due to the effects of various indicators of psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that weight-based stigmatization predicts binge eating behavior and that psychological distress associated with stigmatizing experiences may be an important mediating factor.

Weight stigmatization and ideological beliefs: relation to psychological functioning in obese adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the relation among weight-based stigmatization, ideological beliefs about weight, and psychological functioning in an obese, treatment-seeking sample. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURE: Ninety-three obese, treatment-seeking adults (24 men and 69 women) completed a battery of self-report questionnaires measuring psychological adjustment, attitudes about weight, belief in the controllability of weight, and the frequency of weight-based stigmatization. RESULTS: Weight-based stigmatization was a common experience for participants. Frequency of stigmatizing experiences was positively associated with depression, general psychiatric symptoms, and body image disturbance, and negatively associated with self-esteem. Further, participants' own negative attitudes about weight problems were associated with their psychological distress and moderated the relation between the experience of stigmatization and body image. DISCUSSION: Weight-based stigmatization is a common experience for obese individuals seeking weight loss treatment and appears to contribute to poor mental health adjustment. The negative effects of these experiences are particularly damaging for those who hold strong antifat beliefs.

Body image partially mediates the relationship between obesity and psychological distress.

OBJECTIVE: Body image is considered as a potential mediator of the relationship between obesity and psychological distress. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: One hundred ten men and women in a residential weight control facility completed the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Binge Eating Scale. RESULTS: For both men and women, body-image satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between degree of overweight and depression/self-esteem. DISCUSSION: Sociodemographic factors that may influence the relationships among weight, body image, and depression/self-esteem are discussed.

Changing eating behavior: a preliminary study to consider broader measures of weight control treatment success.

This study evaluated changes in the self-reported eating behaviors (snacking, binge eating, portion sizes, and meal skipping) of 52 obese adults (33 women and 19 men) attending a residential weight loss facility on two consecutive occasions. For each of the eating patterns studied, subjects reported engaging in the behavior significantly less frequently at the time of their return visit. It is proposed that changes in eating behaviors provide a useful and appropriate nonweight based outcome measure for estimating treatment success in diet-seeking clients.