Weight Stigma and Diabetes Stigma: Implications for Weight-Related Health Behaviors in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Overview

Journal Clin Diabetes

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2022 Feb 28

PMID 35221472

Authors

Rebecca M Puhl

Mary S Himmelstein

Jane Speight

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

There has been little recognition that people with type 2 diabetes are vulnerable to weight stigma and diabetes stigma and almost no research examining the implications of these forms of stigma for their health and well-being. This study examined health behavior correlates of weight stigma and diabetes stigma in 1,227 adults with type 2 diabetes. Results showed that experiencing weight stigma in health care, experiencing differential treatment from others because of their diabetes, and engaging in self-stigma for diabetes and body weight were each significantly associated with increased frequency of binge eating and eating as a coping strategy to deal with negative feelings. Internalizing weight stigma was also significantly associated with lower levels of physical activity and worse self-rated health. These findings suggest that initiatives to improve the health and well-being of people with type 2 diabetes must consider the potentially harmful roles of weight stigma and diabetes stigma.

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