Weight Stigma

Question 1

What is weight stigma?

Answer 1

• Labelling, stereotyping, separation, and discrimination co-occurring in a context in which differences in power exist between dominant and marginalized groups
• Larger bodies = marginalized
• We associate negative stereotypes to negative attributes = Othering and discrimination
• Negative weight related attitudes commonly held = mistreatment of individuals in larger bodies*

Question 2

What are the 5 multidimensional constructs of weight bias?

Answer 2

• Direct Forms
• Internalized Forms
• Structural forms
• Leads to negative health outcomes
• Leads to health inequity

Question 3

Direct forms

Answer 3

-Interpersonal negative treatment, attitudes, comments about someone based on their body size

Question 4

Internalized forms

Answer 4

• Belief about negative stereotypes and applying them to oneself
• Devaluing yourself because of fit and buying into the attitudes

Question 5

Structural forms

Answer 5

• Weight bias exists in social structures and are ingrained in aspects of our institutions
• Education, healthcare, subtle ways (equipment sizes, weight limits)

Question 6

Leads to negative health outcomes and health inequity

Answer 6

• MYTH: If we shame and blame people in larger bodies = will motivate them to engage in healthier behaviours
• We want to promote health in a way that doesn’t stigmatize others in different body sizes

Question 7

Direct influences on health

Answer 7

• Increase in blood pressure (physiological response)
• Increase in cortisol (physiological response)
• Decrease self-esteem (emotional response)
• Increase anxiety (emotional response)
• Increase depression (emotional response)

Question 8

Indirect influences on health via behaviour

Answer 8

• Increase binge eating
• Increase food consumption
• Decrease PA
• Decrease accessing health care (they feel they will be stigmatized in these paces too)
• Promotes/exacerbates obesity and other health issues

Question 9

How is the cycle of weight bias perpetuated?

Answer 9

-Body size increases = weight stigma increases = perpetuated cycle

Question 10

Weight-centric beliefs and practices in PA contexts

Answer 10

• Stereotypes
• Negative portrayals
• Weight bias

Question 11

What are the stereotypes in weight bias?

Answer 11

• Thin = physically fit
• Larger body exercising = doing it for weight loss
• PA is promoted to lose weight

Question 12

What are the negative portrayals of larger body sizes?

Answer 12

• Common forms of media
• Gym advertisements
• Sports teams
• Not portrayed at all
• Portrayed negatively (lazy)
• Before and after pictures (“Don’t be the before”)

Question 13

What are the perspectives of women experiencing weight stigma?

Answer 13

• Ridiculed, humiliated, patronized
• Internalizing weight bias
• Avoid PA

Question 14

Why do people avoid PA if experiencing weight bias?

Answer 14

• Exercise at home where no one sees them
• Exercise in smaller groups or at less busy times
• Stay at the back of a fitness class
• More concerned/self conscious about being seen being active as this increases the risk of weight bias being experiences
• Want to engage but needs to negotiate how and what that looks like to them

Question 15

How to reduce weight stigma?

Answer 15

• Be compassionate and don’t promote health in a way that stigmatizes or blames others in different body sizes
• Advocate for weight neutral approaches to PA promotion
• Focus on other PA benefits not related to weight (mental health, sleep, social connection, CV fitness, etc)
• Talk about it! (size acceptance)
• Actively try to dismantle or decrease weight bias beliefs
• Celebrate different and ALL body sizes

Question 16

Video impressions

Answer 16

• We tend to avoid “fat”
• Weight stigma = negative affect = less self-efficacy to execute goals
• Spread information and change attitudes = make cycling more inclusive
• Embrace bodies = more comfort in participating, healthier eating habits and increased self-image
• Professionals make negative comments, therefore we need to understand the whole being
• Increase the awareness of the “void in the cycling” community

Question 17

Negative impacts of weight stigma

Answer 17

• Reluctance to be PA
• Disordered eating
• Hard to start or begin PA; set-up for failure
• Hyperfocus to be smaller
• “Fat” was part of your identity that needs to be explained; we immediately notice body size and it becomes a way we describe ourselves and judge others
• Uncomfortable asking for help

Question 18

How can PA and cycling be more inclusive?

Answer 18

• Message highlighting there is no “right” way to move
• Less connection to weight loss
• train professionals to be weight neutral so they do not perpetuate weight bias in their suggestions
• Social support/ Supportive groups for all skill levels
• Redefine activity goal (experience over skill)
• Better more inclusive and broad range equipment designs
• Provide lots of activity options
• Less thought about looks, more on how activity makes you feel!