A Meta-Analysis of Heavyweight and Self-Esteem

Miller, Carol T.; Downey, Kathryn T.

doi:10.1207/s15327957pspr0301_4

Cited by 181 publications

(149 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(98 reference statements)

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“…Thus, women seemed to accept weight as a defining aspect of their value. Consistent with this interpretation, explicit assessments have found lower levels of self-esteem among overweight women compared with normal weight women (Miller & Downey, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Gender differences in implicit weight identity

Grover

Keel

Mitchell

2003

Intl J Eating Disorders

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Objective: This study examined gender differences in explicit and implicit attitudes toward overweight and explicit and implicit weight identity. Method: Normal weight women (n ¼ 22) and men (n ¼ 20) and overweight women (n ¼ 20) and men (n ¼ 21) completed the Implicit Association Test and portions of the Eating Disorders Questionnaire. Results: Although explicit and implicit anti-fat attitudes were ubiquitous, gender differences emerged for weight identity. Both men and women provided accurate explicit appraisals of their weight status. However, men implicitly identified themselves as light regardless of actual weight status. Women's implicit weight identity was associated with their actual weight status, explicit weight appraisal, and implicit self-esteem. Discussion: These findings may provide additional insight into why men are underrepresented among those seeking weight loss and why women are at increased risk for developing eating disorders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Gender differences in implicit weight identity

Grover

Keel

Mitchell

2003

Intl J Eating Disorders

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“…These findings are not surprising. Previous studies have found BMI closely linked with self-esteem, especially in societies with cultural preferences for thinness (Miller & Downey, 1999). In addition to higher BMI being linked to poorer selfesteem, it also has well established links with poorer health (Visscher & Seidell, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Health Disparities Among Common Subcultural Identities of Young Gay Men: Physical, Mental, and Sexual Health

Lyons

Hosking

2014

Arch Sex Behav

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Researchers, policymakers, and health agencies have tended to treat gay men as a relatively homogeneous population, with little attention given to its many subcultural identities. In this study, we focused on young gay men and investigated a range of health-related differences according to common subcultural identities, such as Bear, Cub, and Twink. In a nationwide cross-sectional online survey of 1,034 Australian gay men aged 18-39 years, 44% reported a subcultural identity, the two most common being Cub (9%) and Twink (20%). Logistic and linear regression analyses compared Cub-and Twink-identified men and those without a subcultural identity (Non-identified) on a range of health-related outcomes. After adjusting for differences in age and body mass index (BMI), Twink-identified men had the highest risk profile overall, including significantly higher rates of smoking tobacco and alcohol consumption. They were also significantly more likely to report engaging in receptive anal sex. In addition, Cub-identified men were significantly more likely to report being in an ongoing relationship while Non-identified men were significantly less likely to report experiences of discrimination in the past 12 months. While there were differences on measures of mental health between the three groups, these were no longer significant after adjusting for age and BMI. In all, we found numerous health-related differences according to subcultural identity that warrant further investigation by researchers, health agencies, and anyone concerned with further understanding and addressing health-related challenges of gay men. , with social groups, formal societies, and dedicated venues catering to this group since at least the 1980s (Manley, Levitt, & Mosher, 2007). As a subculture, many of these men have shared identities around embodying traditional forms of masculinity and resisting stereotypes of gay men as effeminate (Filiault & Drummond, 2007). With larger body mass 4 also being a core part of identity for these men, there is potential resistance to weight loss behaviors (Gough & Flanders, 2009), which may have a bearing on health-related outcomes. KEYWORDSTwink-identified men on the other hand are typically lean, relatively young, and usually have shaved or naturally hairless bodies (Filiault & Drummond, 2007). They are arguably less organized as a social group than Bear-or Cub-identified men, but are nevertheless defined by commonly shared stereotypes as less traditionally masculine and more submissive. They also tend to be the most visible "type" on the gay scene, such as in gay bars and clubs (Filiault & Drummond, 2007), where drug use and engaging in risky sex can be relatively common (Halkitis & Parsons, 2002;Lea, Reynolds, & de Wit, 2013).To our knowledge, only one study has reported on links between health and subcultural identity (Willoughby et al., 2008). Conducted in the U.S. with 340 gay men, the study identified at least 12 subcultural identities, including Bear and Twink, with differences found on drug use and...

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“…Given this potentially stressful scenario, women, particularly those who are overweight, may experience Weighing the care MR Hebl et al decreases in state self-esteem prior to the physician's visit. 53 Any favorable or mixed attention that they receive may be gratefully accepted because of potentially lowered expectations and poorer self-regard. 53,54 Additionally, if they receive negative feedback and less favorable medical treatment, they may blame themselves and not attribute it to deficits in physician care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…53 Any favorable or mixed attention that they receive may be gratefully accepted because of potentially lowered expectations and poorer self-regard. 53,54 Additionally, if they receive negative feedback and less favorable medical treatment, they may blame themselves and not attribute it to deficits in physician care. This rationale is consistent with past research, 55 which suggests that members of some stigmatized groups believe that the discrimination that they receive is justifiable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weighing the care: patients' perceptions of physician care as a function of gender and weight

Hebl

Mason

2003

Int J Obes

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OBJECTIVE:To examine patients' reports of the level of care that they receive from their physicians, and determine the influence of weight and gender in these reports. DESIGN: In a four-cell design, male and female, overweight and nonoverweight patients reported on the medical care that they received immediately following their appointment. SUBJECTS: A total of 125 patients affiliated to one of four large clinics in the Texas Medical Center of Houston completed this study. MEASUREMENTS:Patients reported the positivity of the care that they received, the time that physicians spent with them, and the extent to which physicians discussed weight-related topics with them. RESULTS: Overweight patients, as a whole, did not report poorer levels of care than did their thinner counterparts. Rather, the weight and gender of the patient significantly interacted across each of the measures to reveal some divergence between male and female patients' weight-based experiences. When significant differences in reported perceptions emerged, overweight men reported deficits in care relative to average weight men (eg, physicians spent less time), whereas overweight women reported enhanced care relative to average weight women (eg, better levels of care, more topics discussed). CONCLUSION: Based on patients' reports, this study reveals that physician care may not be as influenced by patient weight as previously thought. Yet, there is a discernable impact of patients' weight on physician behavior. Overweight men, who may comprise the most at-risk population, indicate that less time is spent with them than that indicated by average weight men. While this may be alarming, overweight women do not report reductions in care. We propose that not only might physicians respond to them differently, but overweight female patients may also be engaging in denial strategies or compensatory behaviors that assure them of quality care.

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A Meta-Analysis of Heavyweight and Self-Esteem

Cited by 181 publications

References 83 publications

Gender differences in implicit weight identity

Gender differences in implicit weight identity

Health Disparities Among Common Subcultural Identities of Young Gay Men: Physical, Mental, and Sexual Health

Weighing the care: patients' perceptions of physician care as a function of gender and weight

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