Development of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for internalized weight stigma.

Abstract

Individuals with a higher body weight are the targets of pervasive social stigma. This stigma can become self-directed or internalized, leading to self-devaluation due to weight. Internalized weight stigma is associated with adverse outcomes for mental and physical health, yet little is known about how to prevent or diminish this internalization. This article introduces a novel, group-based, psychological intervention designed to reduce internalized weight stigma and its ill effects on health. Rationale is provided for the therapeutic approach and for the intervention's proposed utility in behavioral weight management settings. Intervention content is described in detail, along with preliminary evidence of its potential effects on psychological and behavioral outcomes.