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. 2024 Aug 7;58(9):603-609.
doi: 10.1093/abm/kaae042.

Sexual Minority Women Report Higher Weight Stigma Levels Than Heterosexual Women in the National Weight Control Registry

Emily Panza  1   2 , KayLoni Olson  1   2 , Kayla Sall  1   2 , Alyssa Norris  2   3 , Jason Lillis  1   2   4 , John Graham Thomas  1   2 , Shira Dunsiger  5 , Halle Fowler  1   6   7 , Hannah Parent  1   6   8 , Rena R Wing  1   2
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Sexual Minority Women Report Higher Weight Stigma Levels Than Heterosexual Women in the National Weight Control Registry

Emily Panza et al. Ann Behav Med. .

Abstract

Background: Little is known about weight stigma in sexual minority women, and even less is known about weight stigma in those who have attained substantial weight loss and maintenance.

Purpose: This study examined weight stigma experiences and internalization in sexual minority women from the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) who had lost ≥30 pounds and maintained this weight loss for ≥1 year, and compared weight stigma levels between sexual minority women versus heterosexual women in the NWCR.

Methods: NWCR participants completed an electronic survey. Women who identified as a sexual minority (n = 64; 98% White; MBMI = 29 ± 8; Mage = 47 ± 13) and heterosexual women matched on body mass index (BMI), age, and race (n = 64; 98% White; MBMI = 28 ± 7; Mage = 51 ± 13) were included. Participants completed assessments of experienced and internalized weight stigma.

Results: Generalized linear models showed that a significantly larger proportion of sexual minority women in the NWCR reported experiencing weight stigma in the past year (24.2%) compared with heterosexual women (4.7%; p < .05). Furthermore, sexual minority (vs. heterosexual) women reported significantly higher levels of internalized weight stigma (p < .001), and a greater proportion of sexual minority women (35%) reported clinically significant internalized weight stigma relative to heterosexual women (2%; p < .001).

Conclusions: Sexual minority women are at greater risk for experienced and internalized weight stigma than their heterosexual counterparts among women who have attained significant long-term weight loss. It is critical to expand research on weight stigma in sexual minority women.

Keywords: LGBTQIA+; Lesbian; Minority stress; Weight bias; Weight discrimination.

Plain language summary

This study examined weight stigma experiences and internalization in sexual minority women who attained substantial weight loss and maintenance, compared with heterosexual women of similar body mass index (BMI), race, and age, in a sample of adults from the National Weight Control Registry. Results showed that 24% of sexual minority women reported experiencing weight stigma in the past year and 35% reported clinically meaningful internalized weight stigma, levels that were higher than those of heterosexual women of similar BMI, age, and race in the sample. These data suggest that sexual minority women who have attained major weight loss may be at greater risk for weight stigma than heterosexual women with similar weight losses.

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