Work

The impact of internalised weight stigma and engagement with weight-inclusive approaches to health on experienced weight stigma and psychosocial health: A cross-sectional analysis of Australian community adults

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between weight stigma and psychosocial health, and to characterise the extent to which individuals are engaged with weight inclusive (i.e., weight neutral, "non-diet") approaches to health. First, we aimed to (1) estimate whether internalised weight stigma mediated the relationship between experienced weight stigma and psychosocial health and (2) understand the role that awareness, engagement, and endorsement (AEE) of non-diet approaches to health might have in affecting this mediation. All methods were pre-registered (see osf.io/uwf7n). METHODS: = 29.5, SD = 6.8) completed an online survey on measures including non-diet AEE, weight stigma, and psychosocial health. RESULTS: Consistent with hypotheses, weight stigma was positively correlated with adverse psychosocial health. Internalised weight stigma mediated the relationship between experienced weight stigma and all 16 psychosocial health correlates measured, including psychological distress, disordered eating, and intuitive eating (controlling for BMI). AEE of non-diet approaches was associated with external forms of weight stigma, but not internal, self-directed weight stigma (partially supporting hypothesis). Contrary to hypotheses, there were few consistent relationships between non-diet AEE and psychosocial health correlates, and AEE of non-diet approaches to health did not moderate the hypothesised mediation effect. CONCLUSION: We found that internalised weight stigma mediated experienced weight stigmas' effects, and that weight stigma was consistently related to adverse psychosocial health. However, the results were mixed for non-diet AEE. At the bivariate level, there was some indication of non-diet AEE's importance, but not at the level of our hypothesised moderating effect.

Source: Obesity Research & Clinical Practice

DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2025.12.006

Authors: Hugh Bidstrup, Leah Brennan, Leah Kaufmann, Alexandra Phillips, Xochitl de la Piedad Garcia

Institutions: La Trobe University, Australian Catholic University

Language: English

Topic: Obesity and Health Practices

Subfield: Pharmacy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,790