Weight-based stigmatization and ideological beliefs: Relation to psychological distress in an obese, treatment -seeking population

In the current sociocultural milieu fatness is so reviled that obese individuals seem to be devalued in virtually all social contexts. This results in obese persons enduring substantial stigmatization and discrimination. Even though there is a considerable body of literature documenting the stigmatizing effects of obesity, little is known about the psychological consequences of such stigmatization or whether obese individuals internalize Western cultural views about weight. The current investigation entailed three phases exploring the psychological consequences of weight-based stigmatization and ideological beliefs. Phase one explored the psychological effects of perceived weight-based stigmatization. Phase two investigated whether ideological beliefs, such as the Protestant work ethic and anti-fat beliefs, were related to overall psychological functioning. The final phase of this investigation explored whether the relationship between psychological health and weight-related stigmatization was moderated by personal characteristics (e.g., ideological beliefs, age of onset of obesity). A sample of 93 (24 males and 69 females) obese, treatment-seeking individuals completed a battery of self-report questionnaires measuring psychological adjustment, ideological beliefs, and weight-based stigmatization. The results of the current study indicated that weight-based stigmatization is a common experience for obese, treatment-seeking individuals and that frequency of self-reported stigmatizing experiences was positively associated with depression, general psychiatric symptoms, and body image disturbance, and negatively related to self-esteem. The only ideological belief that proved to be a significant predictor of mental health adjustment was internalization of anti-fat beliefs such that individuals who endorsed more anti-fat beliefs reported more psychological distress. In general, the effects of stigmatization were not moderated by personal beliefs. However, internalization of anti-fat attitudes did moderate the relationship between weight-based stigmatization and body image dissatisfaction. Age of onset of obesity proved to moderate the relationship between stigmatization and both depression and general psychological symptoms. The findings of this investigation indicated that weight-based stigmatization is a common occurrence for obese individuals and this stigmatization contributes to poor mental health adjustment; with differential effects depending on age of onset of obesity and internalization of cultural messages about weight. Implications of these findings are discussed. As well, future research directions that could contribute to a more complete understanding of the relation between weight-based stigmatization and psychological well-being for obese individuals are presented.