Weight bias and identity characteristics among students at a public university in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Objective Despite the consequences of weight discrimination for health inequities, its relationship with identity characteristics remains poorly understood. We investigated whether and to what extent discrimination attributed to body weight is linked to sociodemographic and identity factors. Methods This cross-sectional study is based on a representative sample of undergraduate students from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Information on perceived discrimination was collected using the brief version of the Explicit Discrimination Scale. Socioeconomic and demographic data were also collected. Results: The results showed that 22.8% of the sample reported experiencing discrimination for being “fat or thin” throughout their lives. Perceived weight discrimination was higher among respondents whose household heads had completed up to high school education, and among those who were overweight and rated their health as “poor.” Conclusion Perceived weight discrimination was associated with significant factors linked to the stigmatization and pathologization of body weight. These findings should be considered in more inclusive approaches aimed at counteracting the embodiment of social inequalities.