Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
Volume 28, Issue 3, Pages 292-298Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s12529-020-09917-1
Keywords
Weight stigma; Obesity; Chronic stress; Unhealthy diet
Categories
Funding
- National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research, Formation of Advanced Human Capital Program/Doctorado Nacional [21150016]
- Universidad de La Frontera, Postdoctoral research program UFRO [VRIP19P001]
- National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development Regular [1180463]
- National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development Postdoctoral [3180534]
- Health and Behavior International Collaborative Award - American Psychosomatic Society
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This study found that weight stigma is an important determinant of obesity in Chilean adults, and is associated with high levels of chronic stress and unhealthy diet. However, chronic stress and unhealthy diet did not mediate the relationship between weight stigma and obesity.
Background Obesity is highly prevalent around the world, including in Chile. Although various psychological factors have been previously associated with obesity, there has been less attention on the role of weight stigma as a determinant of obesity in Chile. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to examine the direct effect of weight stigma on obesity and determine whether chronic stress and unhealthy diet mediate the relationship between weight stigma and obesity. Methods Faculty and staff from a Chilean university enrolled in the Chilean Study of Psychological Predictors of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome and completed anthropometric measurements and measures of weight stigma, chronic stress, and unhealthy diet. Results Three-hundred and eighty-three participants (M-age= 45 years old; 58% female) were included in the present analysis. Structural equation model analyses demonstrated a direct effect of weight stigma on obesity, chronic stress, and unhealthy diet. However, chronic stress and unhealthy diet did not mediate the relationship between weight stigma and obesity. Conclusions Weight stigma is an important determinant of obesity and is associated with high levels of chronic stress and unhealthy diet in Chilean adults. Our results provide further support for the multifactorial nature of obesity and can inform future interventions aimed promoting weight loss in people with overweight and obesity.
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