Characterizing Lifetime and Daily Experiences of Weight Stigma among Sexual Minority Women with Overweight and Obesity

A Descriptive Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15480452
AuthorsEmily Panza (0000-0001-9874-4160, Brown University, corresponding author), KayLoni L Olson (0000-0001-7946-9570, Brown University), KayLoni Olson (Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA), Carly M Goldstein (0000-0002-6150-5649, Brown University), Edward A Selby (0000-0002-8956-0236, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), Jason Lillis (0000-0002-0884-8730, Brown University)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue13
Pages4892-4892
Publication date2020-07-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17134892
PMID32645883
OpenAlexW3039523612
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited61

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/m 2 . 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

Descriptive research · Family medicine · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Obesity · Overweight · Psychiatry · Sexual minority · Sexual orientation · Social stigma · Sociology · Stigma (botany · Weight stigma · Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

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