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. 2015 Feb;34(2):172-5.
doi: 10.1037/hea0000106. Epub 2014 Aug 18.

Weight stigma mediates the association between BMI and self-reported health

Jeffrey M Hunger  1 , Brenda Major  1
Affiliations

Weight stigma mediates the association between BMI and self-reported health

Jeffrey M Hunger et al. Health Psychol. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Weight stigma is pervasive in the United States. We tested the hypothesis that stigma may be a mechanism through which obesity negatively affects self-reported health. Two studies examined whether perceived weight-based discrimination and concerns over weight stigma mediated the association between BMI and self-reported psychological health (Study 1) and physical health (Study 2).

Method: In 2 online studies, adult community members completed measures of stigma-relevant mediators (perceived weight discrimination, weight stigma concerns) and provided their height and weight. In Study 1 (N = 171) participants also completed measures of psychological health (depression, self-esteem, quality of life), whereas participants in Study 2 (N = 194) also completed a measure of self-reported physical health. Process modeling was used to simultaneously test for mediation through perceived discrimination and stigma concerns independently as well as for serial mediation through both variables.

Results: Across both studies, we hypothesized and found support for serial mediation such that BMI was indirectly related to poorer self-reported health through its effect on perceived discrimination and concerns about stigma. Additionally, concerns about stigma mediated the association between BMI and health independent of perceived discrimination.

Conclusions: Weight stigma is an important mediator of the association between BMI and self-reported health. Furthermore, results indicate that concerns about facing stigma in the future mediate the link between perceived past experiences of discrimination and psychological and physical health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PROCESS results for Study 1 displayed in the top panel and results for Study 2 in the bottom panel. Standardized coefficients (β) are presented. *p < .05, **p < .01, ***<.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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