Journal article
Association between weight bias internalization and metabolic syndrome among treatment-seeking individuals with obesity
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), v 25(2), pp 317-322
Feb 2017
PMID: 28124502
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Weight stigma is a chronic stressor that may increase cardiometabolic risk. Some individuals with obesity self-stigmatize (i.e., weight bias internalization, WBI). No study to date has examined whether WBI is associated with metabolic syndrome.
Blood pressure, waist circumference, and fasting glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline in 178 adults with obesity enrolled in a weight-loss trial. Medication use for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and prediabetes was included in criteria for metabolic syndrome. One hundred fifty-nine participants (88.1% female, 67.3% black, mean BMI = 41.1 kg/m
) completed the Weight Bias Internalization Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, to assess depressive symptoms). Odds ratios and partial correlations were calculated adjusting for demographics, BMI, and PHQ-9 scores.
Fifty-one participants (32.1%) met criteria for metabolic syndrome. Odds of meeting criteria for metabolic syndrome were greater among participants with higher WBI, but not when controlling for all covariates (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.00-2.13, P = 0.052). Higher WBI predicted greater odds of having high triglycerides (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.14-3.09, P = 0.043). Analyzed categorically, high (vs. low) WBI predicted greater odds of metabolic syndrome and high triglycerides (Ps < 0.05).
Individuals with obesity who self-stigmatize may have heightened cardiometabolic risk. Biological and behavioral pathways linking WBI and metabolic syndrome require further exploration.
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Details
- Title
- Association between weight bias internalization and metabolic syndrome among treatment-seeking individuals with obesity
- Creators
- Rebecca L Pearl - University of PennsylvaniaThomas A Wadden - University of PennsylvaniaChristina M Hopkins - University of PennsylvaniaJena A Shaw - University of PennsylvaniaMatthew R Hayes - University of PennsylvaniaZayna M Bakizada - University of PennsylvaniaNasreen Alfaris - Massachusetts General HospitalAriana M Chao - University of PennsylvaniaEmilie Pinkasavage - University of PennsylvaniaRobert I Berkowitz - University of PennsylvaniaNaji Alamuddin - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), v 25(2), pp 317-322
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- T32 NR007100 / NINR NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- WELL Center
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000394970100012
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85010288046
- Other Identifier
- 991022016373604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Nutrition & Dietetics