Psychosocial Outcomes of Weight Stigma among College Students

Obesity is pandemic affecting more than a billion people worldwide with two or three times more people being overweight. Overweight and obesity are considered important public health issues in the United States with more than 60% of US adults overweight or obese. The burden of obesity manifests itself in premature death, disability and social stigmatization. The most common and immediate consequences of obesity are psychosocial. Obesity has been linked to low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, body dissatisfaction and discrimination.

A psychosocial consequence gaining attention in the literature is weight stigma. Although weight stigma is a problem in the general population it is more consequential among adolescents due to mental and physical developmental changes. Therefore college students were used in this study because they are considered older adolescent (ages 18-21). The goals of this study were to examine the association between weight status, weight stigma, self-esteem, body image and depressive symptoms. These associations will be examined using multiple linear regression, linear meditational analysis and factor analysis.

This study will identify if (1) overweight and obese individuals experience more stigma than their normal weight and underweight counterparts, (2) weight stigma has a negative effect on body image and depression among overweight and obese individuals, (3) self-esteem differs based on weight status, and (4) weight stigma differs among overweight and obese individuals based on existing level of self-esteem. Sample consisted of 1004 participants. Of the sample, 82% were female, 75% were Caucasian, and 31% were Juniors. Most participants were 20 years of age.