Abstract
Current measures of internalized weight bias assess factors such as responsibility for weight status, mistreatment because
of weight, etc. A potential complementary approach for assessing internalized weight bias is to examine the correspondence
between individuals’ ratings of obese people, normal weight people, and themselves on personality traits. This investigation
examined the relationships among different measures of internalized weight bias, as well as the association between those
measures and psychosocial maladjustment. Prior to the beginning of a weight loss intervention, 62 overweight/obese adults
completed measures of explicit and internalized weight bias as well as body image, binge eating, and depression. Discrepancies
between participants’ ratings of obese people in general and ratings of themselves on both positive and negative traits predicted
unique variance in measures of maladjustment above a traditional assessment of internalized weight bias. This novel approach
to measuring internalized weight bias provides information above and beyond traditional measures of internalized weight bias
and begins to provide insights into social comparison processes involved in weight bias.
of weight, etc. A potential complementary approach for assessing internalized weight bias is to examine the correspondence
between individuals’ ratings of obese people, normal weight people, and themselves on personality traits. This investigation
examined the relationships among different measures of internalized weight bias, as well as the association between those
measures and psychosocial maladjustment. Prior to the beginning of a weight loss intervention, 62 overweight/obese adults
completed measures of explicit and internalized weight bias as well as body image, binge eating, and depression. Discrepancies
between participants’ ratings of obese people in general and ratings of themselves on both positive and negative traits predicted
unique variance in measures of maladjustment above a traditional assessment of internalized weight bias. This novel approach
to measuring internalized weight bias provides information above and beyond traditional measures of internalized weight bias
and begins to provide insights into social comparison processes involved in weight bias.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-012-9402-8
- Authors
- Robert A. Carels, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- J. Burmeister, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- M. W. Oehlhof, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- N. Hinman, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- M. LeRoy, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- E. Bannon, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- A. Koball, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- L. Ashrafloun, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715