Weight Stigma and Eating Disorders
Weight stigma is a negative discrimination or perception based on an individual’s weight, shape, or body size. The misconception that eating disorders only present themselves in severely emaciated females is problematic for those in larger bodies who are in need of treatment. Weight stigma prevents many individuals from seeking treatment and receiving an appropriate diagnosis.
By: DeAndra “D” Forde
Weight stigma is all around us — from the news, movies and television shows, fashion, and even our daily interactions — we all encounter or exude it whether we are cognizant of it or not. You may be asking yourself, what exactly is weight stigma? Weight stigma, also known as weight bias or weight-based discrimination, is described by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) as, "discrimination or stereotyping based on a person's weight." NEDA also notes how weight discrimination is more prevalent than gender and age discrimination.
The presence of weight stigma can increase an individual's body dissatisfaction, which can be a contributing factor in the development of eating disorders. Our society has prioritized thinness and has caused many to develop negative psychological and behavioral issues such as anxiety, physiological stress, and poor body image.
Unfortunately, a large intersection of weight stigma is within the health, wellness, and medical fields. Medical measurements and values such as the Body Mass Index (BMI) are coming to light as antiquated and simply inaccurate for the abundance of body diversity that makes up our global population.
Some healthcare professionals may present a bias, whether consciously or subconsciously, against their larger-bodied patients, prioritizing weight loss rather than fully addressing the patients' actual health concerns. Healthcare professionals are supposed to be the individuals we turn to for accurate information, trust, affirmation, and optimism. However, in many cases, they are the exact people perpetuating the stigma, making it challenging for many to seek out treatment safely. What does this do? It increases the health disparities that can be seen in some individuals in larger bodies. Studies have seen that patients in larger bodies are likely to avoid preventative care visits, and when they do seek health services, they may receive compromised and damaging care (Phelan, 2015).
We've talked about weight stigma in general and how it can impact those in larger bodies. Let's take a look at how weight stigma impacts individuals who are combating eating disorders.
When others make negative comments about your body, they can have a lasting impact on your mental health and body image. Now think of how those comments can be exacerbated by someone struggling with an eating disorder. Those with eating disorders often follow specific disordered behaviors and rules that they believe will reduce their chances of gaining weight. Weight biases and the fear of gaining weight may play a role in patients and their healthcare providers not establishing weight restoration goals that are adequate for recovery from an eating disorder. Eating disorders are often misdiagnosed among individuals in larger bodies due to the biased assumptions that weight loss is the proper answer when it is more likely to be problematic. To further your understanding of weight stigma and biases, here is a link to a Poodle Science video playful explaining this complex topic.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, we treat the spectrum of eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues using the Health at Every Size approach. Our team is dedicated to helping clients overcome their fear of weight gain and reassure them that they can achieve recovery, health, and wellness at any size. Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our treatment approach and our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Dietetic Intern, DeAndra “D” Forde.
DeAndra Forde is a dietetic intern at Be Well Solutions completing her internship to become a Registered Dietitian. DeAndra graduated from Drexel University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods. After seeing the lack of Eating Disorder education in the vast majority of DPD and DI programs, she sought out opportunities to learn from professionals in this field through her distance program. In the future, DeAndra aspires to go into community nutrition but to bring her newfound knowledge of Health at Every Size (HAES) into that setting. She wants people of various cultural/ethnic backgrounds and body structures to feel comfortable in their bodies and with their relationship to food.
Resources
Phelan, SM, et al. “Impact of Weight Bias and Stigma on Quality of Care and Outcomes for Patients with Obesity.” Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Apr. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4381543/.
“Weight Stigma.” National Eating Disorders Association, 27 June 2019, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/weight-stigma.