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Experienced weight stigma, internalized weight bias, and maladaptive eating patterns among heterosexual and sexual minority individuals

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Abstract

Purpose

The current study examined experienced weight stigma (EWS), internalized weight bias (IWB), and maladaptive eating patterns (ME) among sexual minority (SM) and heterosexual individuals.

Methods

The sample consisted of cisgender heterosexual and SM men and women. Participants were drawn from introductory psychology classes and a variety of supplemental recruitment methods (Facebook, Instagram, MTURK, etc.).

Results

SM individuals reported higher levels of EWS, IWB, and maladaptive eating patterns than heterosexual individuals. Heterosexual men reported the lowest levels of EWS, IWB, and ME compared to all other groups. Additionally, there was a significant association between greater EWS and IWB and greater ME. Gender identity and sexual orientation impacted the strength of the relationship between IWB and ME and, to a lesser extent, EWS and ME.

Conclusion

This investigation contributes to knowledge of the impact of gender identity and sexual orientation on EWS and IWB, and demonstrates that IWB and EWS are significant concerns for the SM community, especially in relation to ME.

Level of evidence

Level IV, cross-sectional study.

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Data availability statement

The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Abigail Thorndyke Shonrock, J. Caroline Miller, Rhonda Byrd, Kayla E. Sall, Emily Jansen, Marissa Carraway, Lisa Campbell & Robert A. Carels

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  1. Abigail Thorndyke Shonrock
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  2. J. Caroline Miller
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  8. Robert A. Carels
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by ATS, JCM, and RAC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by ATS and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abigail Thorndyke Shonrock.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of East Carolina University (UMCIRB 19–002031).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Shonrock, A.T., Miller, J.C., Byrd, R. et al. Experienced weight stigma, internalized weight bias, and maladaptive eating patterns among heterosexual and sexual minority individuals. Eat Weight Disord 27, 3487–3497 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-022-01486-4

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