Weight-related stigma is a significant psychosocial stressor in developing countries: Evidence from Guatemala. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hackman, Joseph; Maupin, Jonathan; Brewis, Alexandra A.
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 161(2016)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Obesity -- Stigma -- Psychological stress -- Guatemala -- Depression -- Weight-stigma; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.05.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Weight-related stigma is established as a major psychosocial stressor and correlate of depression among people living with obesity in high-income countries. Anti-fat beliefs are rapidly globalizing. The goal of the study is to (1) examine how weight-related stigma, enacted as teasing, is evident among women from a lower-income country and (2) test if such weight-related stigma contributes to depressive symptoms. Modeling data for 12, 074 reproductive-age women collected in the 2008–2009 Guatemala National Maternal-Infant Health Survey, we demonstrate that weight-related teasing is (1) experienced by those both underweight and overweight, and (2) a significant psychosocial stressor. Effects are comparable to other factors known to influence women's depressive risk in lower-income countries, such as living in poverty, experiencing food insecurity, or suffering sexual/domestic violence. That women's failure to meet local body norms—whether they are overweight or underweight—serves as such a strong source of psychological distress is particularly concerning in settings like Guatemala where high levels of over- and under-nutrition intersect at the household and community level. Current obesity-centric models of weight-related stigma, developed from studies in high-income countries, fail to recognize that being underweight may create similar forms of psychosocial distress in low-income countries. Highlights: Guatemalan women report teasing related to both underweight and obesity. Effects exceed other known predictors of psychological distress. Models of weight-related stigma focused on obesity need revision in global contexts.