Abstract
BackgroundTheoretical models emphasize the importance of implicit self-related weight attitudes for the maintenance of body dissatisfaction. Even though body dissatisfaction is increased in obesity, only general implicit weight-related attitudes have been investigated so far. Therefore, the present study assessed self-related and general implicit weight attitudes and their relation to food.MethodsWomen with overweight and obesity (OW; n = 71) and women with normal weight (NW; n = 44) completed three implicit tasks to (1) assess attitudes towards persons with normal weight and overweight in general, (2) attitudes towards one’s own body, and (3) the association between one’s own body and food.ResultsWhile both groups showed an implicit preference towards persons with normal weight relative to persons with overweight, only women with OW showed a significantly stronger negative implicit attitude towards their own body and a stronger association between food and one’s own body. Additionally, self-related and not general implicit weight attitudes correlated significantly with body dissatisfaction and eating pathology.ConclusionsThe results highlight the importance of self-related implicit attitudes and their relation to body dissatisfaction and eating pathology in women with overweight and obesity. Targeting these self-related implicit weight attitudes might help to improve obesity treatments.
Highlights
Current studies underline the severity of body dissatisfaction among individuals with overweight and obesity as elevated levels compared to normal weight controls have consistently been found (e.g. Weinberger et al, 2016)
Correlations: There was no significant correlation between implicit weight bias and explicit attitudes towards persons with normal weight, but there was a statistical trend between implicit weight bias and explicit attitudes towards persons with overweight
Recent studies highlight the need to target body dissatisfaction in persons with overweight and obesity as body dissatisfaction is associated with a variety of unhealthy behaviors and conditions such as reduced emotional well-being, disordered eating, and less successful long-term weight loss (Carraça et al, 2011; Gall et al, 2016; Olson et al, 2018)
Summary
Current studies underline the severity of body dissatisfaction among individuals with overweight and obesity as elevated levels compared to normal weight controls have consistently been found (e.g. Weinberger et al, 2016). Besides body dissatisfaction's negative effects on emotional well-being (Schwartz & Brownell, 2004), experimental and longitudinal studies yield robust evidence that it is a risk factor for disordered eating, thereby contributing to the etiology and maintenance of overweight and obesity (Jansen et al, 2008a, 2008b; Neumark-Sztainer et al, 2006). Numerous studies confirm the negative effects of weight bias internalization in persons with overweight and obesity as it is associated with psychological distress, severe eating pathology, and poorer weight loss outcome (Carels et al, 2010; Mensinger et al, 2016). Conclusions The results highlight the importance of self-related implicit attitudes and their relation to body dissatisfaction and eating pathology in women with overweight and obesity. Targeting these self-related implicit weight attitudes might help to improve obesity treatments
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