Demographic Predictors of Internalized Weight Stigma in a Diverse Sample of U.S. Adults

Internalized weight stigma (IWS) is determinantal to psychological and physical health, yet little is known about IWS in racial, ethnic, and sexual minority groups or individuals at the intersections of those groups. This study identified demographic predictors of IWS in a diverse sample of adults (N = 2,632; 36% Black or African American, 36% Latino, 29% sexual minority) who were recruited from a national U.S. panel and represented the full range of body mass index (BMI) values. IWS was assessed with the modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M). Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), WBIS-M scores were first predicted from four demographic predictors of interest (gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation), controlling for age, education, income, and BMI. A second ANCOVA then included all two- and three-way interactions among the four demographic predictors. Respondents with higher BMI values reported significantly higher levels of IWS. Significantly higher WBIS-M scores were observed among women (vs. men), non-Black (vs. Black), Latino (vs. non-Latino), and sexual minority (vs. heterosexual) respondents. These findings, however, were qualified by significant interactions between race and gender and between race and ethnicity. Black women reported significantly lower WBIS-M scores than non-Black women, while scores were similar for Black and non-Black men. Among non-Latino respondents, Black respondents reported significantly lower WBIS-M scores than non-Black respondents; however, scores were similar for Black and non-Black respondents who identified as Latino. More research is needed to assess whether lower IWS translates into protective health effects for certain subgroups of Black adults.