Healing from weight stigma in community: A thematic analysis of a group intervention for large-bodied individuals.

Abstract

Discrimination against and negative beliefs about large-bodied individuals, known as weight stigma, is pervasive and harmful. While previous research has focused on the negative consequences of weight stigma, the present study aims to highlight the lived experience of large-bodied individuals while also exploring the process of healing from harmful experiences of weight stigma. Ten adult (9/10 White, 8/10 cisgender women), large-bodied individuals recruited via snowball sampling through a nonprofit, grassroots, eating disorder advocacy organization participated in a 10-week, counselor-facilitated support group with the shared goal of healing from the impact of weight stigma. Researchers used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze video recordings and transcripts of group sessions to answer the following question: how did participants make sense of their weight stigma experiences and engage with the process of healing in community? Four primary themes were generated: (a) Community is Essential, (b) Storying, (c) Deprogramming and Changing Mindset, and (d) Expansive Healing. These results underscore the impact of weight stigma in the lives of large-bodied individuals and provide insight into how clinicians might support such individuals engaging in collective healing from these painful experiences. Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: How do large-bodied individuals heal from systemic weight stigma in group psychotherapy? Findings: Findings suggest that the process of healing from weight stigma includes story-telling, community-building, fostering a systemic lens, and bolstering self-advocacy skills. Meaning: Relational-cultural theory, radical healing, and group psychotherapy may be useful when supporting large-bodied psychotherapy clients in healing from experiences of weight stigma. Next Steps: Future research should explore how self-determination and advocacy can be fostered for clients who have experienced weight stigma, as well as how peer-and clinician-facilitated, self-sustaining versions of a group intervention like this may support clients.