Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Austen, Emma
• Griffiths, Scott

Titel

Weight stigma predicts reduced psychological wellbeing and weight gain among sexual minority men: A 12-month longitudinal cohort study using random intercept cross-lagged panel models

Ist Teil von

• Body image, 2022-03, Vol.40, p.19-29

Ort / Verlag

Netherlands: Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Weight stigma among sexual minority men predicts negative health outcomes; however, existing research is cross-sectional. Therefore, we longitudinally examined the presence, strength, and direction of relationships between weight stigma and health outcomes in a multi-national cohort of 2953 sexual minority men (Mage = 37.70, SDage = 13.70). Participants reported their Body Mass Index (BMI), experiences of weight discrimination, internalized weight bias, and psychological quality of life at three time-points over 12 months (~August 2019–20). Analyses revealed feedback loops of internalized weight bias with BMI and psychological quality of life: over time, increases in internalized weight bias were associated with small BMI increases (β = 0.07) and small decreases in psychological quality of life (β = 0.12). Reciprocally, increases in BMI and decreases in psychological quality of life were associated with increases in internalized weight bias (βs = 0.18). Experiences of weight discrimination were not longitudinally predictive and were associated with higher BMI (β = 0.29), greater internalized weight bias (β = 0.29), and lower psychological quality of life (β = 0.26) between-persons/cross-sectionally only. Weight stigma is longitudinally and reciprocally associated with reduced psychological wellbeing and weight gain among sexual minority men. Internalized weight bias is a particularly promising intervention target. •Internalized weight bias longitudinally predicts BMI increases, and vice-versa.•Internalized weight bias longitudinally predicts lower psychological wellbeing, and vice-versa.•Weight discrimination is not longitudinally predictive of BMI or psychological wellbeing.•Weight discrimination is cross-sectionally associated with BMI and psychological wellbeing.•Internalized weight bias is a promising target for weight stigma interventions.