Weight stigma, or perceived unfair treatment based on body weight or size, has been linked to a range of health concerns, but less is known about how these experiences may affect cardiometabolic health in populations underrepresented in research.
A study by Associate Professor Mary A. Gerend, Ph.D. and student Anna W. Lu (M.D. Class of 2028) examined the association between perceived weight stigma and cardiometabolic health in a demographically varied sample of 2,632 U.S. adults who identify as racial and ethnic minorities. The research team also examined whether smoking, alcohol use and sleep disturbance may help explain the relationship between weight stigma and cardiometabolic health.
The findings showed that more frequent exposure to weight stigma was associated with higher cardiometabolic risk (for example, diagnosis with heart disease or type 2 diabetes), even after accounting for body mass index and demographic characteristics. Participants who reported more frequent weight stigma were also more likely to report smoking, problematic alcohol use and disrupted sleep, which were each associated with higher cardiometabolic risk.
The association between weight stigma and cardiometabolic risk was observed across demographic groups, although the relationship was stronger among men than women.
The findings add to growing evidence that weight stigma may represent an independent health risk; they also highlight the importance of considering the health consequences of weight-based stigma in efforts to prevent cardiometabolic disease.
