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Epidemiology and Population Health

Associations among enacted weight stigma, weight self-stigma, and multiple physical health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and selected health behaviors

International Journal of Obesity volume 47, pages 33–38 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

This study examined the relationship among enacted weight stigma, weight self-stigma, and multiple health outcomes. Weight stigma, a stressor experienced across all body sizes, may contribute to poorer physical health outcomes by activating the nervous and endocrine system or by triggering counterproductive health behaviors like lower physical activity, maladaptive eating patterns, and delayed health care, as well as provider bias that may cause a medical concern to be discounted. While associations of weight stigma with mental health issues are well documented, less is known about its association with physical health.

Methods

We enrolled 3821 adults who completed an online survey assessing enacted weight stigma, weight self-stigma, multiple self-reported physical health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and selected health behaviors.

Results

After controlling for BMI, health care delay or avoidance, sedentary behavior, and selected demographic characteristics, enacted weight stigma, significantly increased the odds of six physical health problems including hypertension (OR 1.36; CI 1.08, 1.72), hyperglycemia (OR 1.73; CI 1.29, 2.31), thyroid disorder, (OR 1.65; CI 1.27, 2.13), any arthritis (OR 1.70; CI 1.27, 2.26), non-arthritic chronic pain (OR 1.76; CI 1.4, 2.29), and infertility (OR 1.53; CI 1.14, 2.05). Weight self-stigma significantly increased the odds for three physical health problems including hypertension (OR 1.43; CI 1.16, 1.76), hyperglycemia (OR 1.37; CI 1.03, 1.81), and non-arthritic chronic pain (OR 1.5; CI 1.2,1.87). Enacted stigma was associated with more than a four-fold increase in odds of believing that a medical concern was disregarded by a health care provider.

Conclusions

In this study, enacted stigma and weight self-stigma were independently associated with heightened risk for multiple physical health problems, as well as, believing health concerns were discounted by providers. Reducing weight stigma may be an important component of managing multiple physical health conditions.

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Data availability

The data generated from this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Dr. Lioness Ayres for her mentorship, guidance, and caring heart.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Iowa, College of Nursing, 54 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    April Prunty, Stephanie Edmonds & M. Kathleen Clark

  2. Allina Health System, 2925 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, USA

    April Prunty

  3. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Office of Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    April Prunty & Stephanie Edmonds

  4. The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, 145N Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Amy Hahn

  5. Center for Access and Delivery Research Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA

    Amy O’Shea & Stephanie Edmonds

  6. The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Amy O’Shea

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Contributions

AP, MKC, SE conceptualized the study, interpreted the data, and prepared the manuscript. AH and AO analyzed the data and contributed to the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to April Prunty.

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Prunty, A., Hahn, A., O’Shea, A. et al. Associations among enacted weight stigma, weight self-stigma, and multiple physical health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and selected health behaviors. Int J Obes 47, 33–38 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01233-w

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