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Weight stigma and disordered eating behaviors in Pakistani overweight adolescents: the mediating role of body esteem

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Weight stigma has been described as social devaluation of people on the basis of their weight and it is associated with negative consequences. The present study was designed to investigate weight stigma and its relationship with disordered eating behaviors in overweight adolescents. One of the main objectives of this study is to investigate the mediating role of body esteem between weight stigma and disordered eating behaviors in overweight adolescent girls.

Methods

Through cross-sectional research design and purposive sampling technique, a sample of 200 overweight adolescent girls was recruited from Lahore, Pakistan. Participants were asked to fill self-report measures related to weight stigma, body esteem, and disordered eating behaviors.

Results

SPSS and AMOS were used to analyze the data. Pearson product moment correlation showed that experiences of weight stigma were negatively related to body esteem and positively related to disordered eating behaviors in overweight adolescent girls. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that body esteem was significantly mediating the relationship between weight stigma and disordered eating behaviors in adolescent girls.

Conclusion

It is concluded that weight stigma and body esteem play a significant role in the development and maintenance of disordered eating behaviors in overweight adolescents. Awareness/educational programs could be designed to empower adolescent girls in combating negative consequences of weight stigma. Furthermore, specific programs could be designed at college or university level to boost one’s body esteem and reduce disordered eating behaviors.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Mubeena Munir & Saima Dawood

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  1. Mubeena Munir
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  2. Saima Dawood
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mubeena Munir.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The present study was approved from Doctoral Programme Coordination Committee. The committee comprised of the following members: Dr. Farah Malik, Professor, Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore. Dr. Rukhsan Kausar, Former Director, Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore. Dr. Saima Dawood, Director, Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore. Dr. Nashi Khan, Associate Professor, Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore. Dr. Aisha Sitwat, Assistant Professor, Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore. Permission was taken from the authors of the questionnaires and related authorities.

Informed consent

An informed consent was duly signed by each participant and respective authorities in case of minors. All information about purpose, nature, and procedure of the research was provided to the participants. The participants were guaranteed that their information will be kept confidential. The participants were ensured that their information will only be used for academic and research purposes. They were informed about their voluntary participation, clearly stating that they had the right to leave the research at any time when they want.

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Munir, M., Dawood, S. Weight stigma and disordered eating behaviors in Pakistani overweight adolescents: the mediating role of body esteem. Eat Weight Disord 26, 1939–1948 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01038-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01038-8

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