Characterizing Lifetime and Daily Experiences of Weight Stigma among Sexual Minority Women with Overweight and Obesity: A Descriptive Study.

Emily Panza,KayLoni Olson,Edward A. Selby,Jason Lillis,Carly M. Goldstein

doi:10.3390/ijerph17134892

Abstract

Sexual minority women are disproportionately impacted by obesity yet are underrepresented in weight stigma research. This Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study is a secondary analysis that aimed to elucidate the frequency and contextual characteristics of perceived experiences of lifetime and momentary weight stigma among sexual minority women with overweight/obesity. Participants were 55 sexual minority women ages 18–60 with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2. Perceived lifetime weight stigma events were assessed at baseline. For the subsequent five days, participants used a smartphone to complete five daily, random EMA prompts assessing the frequency/characteristics of perceived weight stigma events in daily life. All participants reported at least one lifetime weight stigma event. During the EMA period, participants reported 44 momentary weight stigma events (M = 0.80), with 24% of participants reporting at least one event. During most instances of weight stigma, women perceived the stigma’s cause to be their weight and another minority identity (e.g., sexual orientation). Findings showing high rates of perceived lifetime weight stigma in this sample and frequent co-occurrence of perceived weight stigma with stigma due to other marginalized identities in daily life underscore the need for future, larger studies investigating weight stigma through an intersectional lens in sexual minority women with overweight/obesity.

Highlights

Despite the high prevalence of obesity in the U.S [1], weight-based stigma is one of the most pervasive and socially-accepted forms of bias [2,3]
All women who completed the baseline visit completed Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) procedures and no attrition occurred during the EMA period
The high rates of perceived weight stigma reported in this sample are comparable to weight stigma rates reported in individuals with overweight/obesity of sexual minority status and from the general population [20], suggesting that weight stigma is a common experience for adults of larger body size regardless of sexual orientation

Summary

Introduction

Despite the high prevalence of obesity in the U.S [1], weight-based stigma is one of the most pervasive and socially-accepted forms of bias [2,3]. This bias is fueled by negative stereotypes that are linked to obesity, such as being lazy or unattractive [4]. Weight stigma occurs when individuals experience unfair treatment based on body weight, such as discrimination or harassment [2]. Perceived weight discrimination partially explains longitudinal associations between obesity and poor cardiometabolic health [11], suggesting that obesity-related

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion