The goal of this study was to examine lifetime weight stigmatization as a mediator of the relationships among current body mass index, childhood overweight, depression, and body dissatisfaction. Participants were 299 female undergraduates (mean age = 20.52, standard deviation = 2.57; mean body mass index = 23.29, standard deviation = 4.51). Weight stigmatization significantly mediated the relationships between body mass index and body dissatisfaction, body mass index and depressive symptoms, and childhood overweight and depressive symptoms. The model accounted for 44.7 percent of the variance in depressive symptoms and 28.2 percent of the variance in body image dissatisfaction. Findings indicated that a decrease in weight stigmatization may predict better mental health.

Results of this study extend previous research by examining the co-occurrence of binge eating and type 2 diabetes as well as the associated dietary behaviors, glycemic control, and psychological factors among indigenous and non-indigenous patients in Chile. These findings may increase our understanding of the health challenges faced by indigenous populations from other countries and highlight the need for additional research that may inform interventions addressing binge eating in diverse patients with type 2 diabetes.

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The current study investigated body mass index (BMI) as a moderator of the relationship between negative weight-based attitudes and depressive symptoms and between negative attitudes and the impact of negative appearance commentary in a sample of college women. Examining BMI as a moderator in these relationships, we hypothesized that individuals with more negative weight-based attitudes would report a stronger negative impact from negative weight or shape commentary and higher levels of depressive symptoms if they had higher BMIs. Two moderated multiple regression analyses were conducted using hierarchical models. Study hypotheses were supported. Results indicated that BMI moderated the relationship between negative weight-based attitudes and depressive symptoms and between negative attitudes and the impact of negative weight or shape commentary. Individuals with highly negative weight-based attitudes and high BMIs showed high levels of depressive symptoms and reported a strong negative impact of negative weight or shape commentary, whereas those with lower BMIs showed lower levels of depressive symptoms and reported a weaker negative impact of negative weight or shape commentary. The presence of this moderation effect extends current research on the negative impact of weight stigma on mental health. Future research should examine additional moderators in the relationships among these variables to identify areas to target in weight stigma interventions.

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Background: Body image dissatisfaction (BID) strongly predicts undesirable outcomes, including disordered eating, depression, and low self-esteem. People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have higher BID due to changes in mobility and functioning and high rates of depression; however, little research has explored BID in people with MS. Identifying factors predicting BID in people with MS would help providers become more aware of BID and its possible negative outcomes. Methods: The sample included 151 adult patients with MS receiving care at the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center for MS. The Body Shape Questionnaire was administered, and demographic information was collected from medical records. Data on MS-specific variables were collected via computerized testing. A one-sample t test, an independent-samples t test, and a hierarchical linear regression were conducted. Results: Average scores on BID were not significantly different from the population mean. Patients with moderate/marked concern were more likely to be female and had higher body mass index values, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores, and Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Stigma T-scores. There were no age differences. No MS-specific variables significantly predicted BID. Conclusions: People with MS show approximately the same levels of BID as the general population. Higher BID was associated with being female and with higher body mass index, depression, and stigma. No MS-specific variables predicted higher BID after controlling for significant variables. Given the evidence in the literature of the negative effects of BID on health behaviors and mood, it is important to explore whether other factors affect BID in people with MS.

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