Internalizing Weight Stigma: Prevalence and Sociodemographic Considerations in US Adults

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2018-01, Vol.26 (1), p.167-175
• Main Authors: Puhl, Rebecca M., Himmelstein, Mary S., Quinn, Diane M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Body mass index; Body Weight - physiology; Demography; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Overweight - psychology; Pathology; Prevalence; Self esteem; Self image; Sociodemographics; Sociological Factors; Stereotypes; Stigma; Studies; United States; Web sites; Weight control; Women
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.22029

Objective This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the presence, severity, and sociodemographic correlates of weight bias internalization (WBI) across three distinct samples of US adults. Methods Levels of WBI were compared in (1) a sample of adults with obesity and heightened risk of weight stigma (N = 456), (2) an online community sample (N = 519), and (3) a national online panel (N = 2,529). Samples 2 and 3 comprised adults with and without obesity. Participants completed identical self‐report measures, including demographic variables and weight‐related factors, to determine their relationship with low, mean, and high levels of WBI. Results At least 44% of adults across samples endorsed mean levels of WBI (as determined by sample 3). The highest levels of WBI were endorsed by approximately one in five adults in the general population samples and by 52% in the sample of adults with obesity. Individuals with the highest WBI were white, had less education and income, were currently trying to lose weight, and had higher BMIs, higher self‐perceived weight, and previous experiences of weight stigma (especially teasing). Conclusions Internalized weight bias is prevalent among women and men and across body weight categories. Findings provide a foundation to better understand characteristics of individuals who are at risk for internalizing weight bias.