Internalized Weight Stigma and Eating Disorders

"Weight stigma refers to negative attitudes, stereotypes, and discriminatory behavior directed at people because of their body size, most often toward individuals in larger bodies. Common stereotypes include assumptions of laziness, lack of discipline, or incompetence, ideas not supported by evidence but still widespread and rarely challenged in Western culture. Stigma appears in several forms. Structural stigma includes biased media portrayals and policies that disadvantage people in larger bodies."

"A key process is internalized weight stigma, which develops when societal prejudice becomes a part of someone's self-belief. Instead of recognizing bias as a social problem, individuals view negative stereotypes as personally accurate. Thoughts such as "I'm lazy," "I have no willpower," or "I'm disgusting" can become ingrained and affect many aspects of life. Internalized stigma goes beyond disliking one's appearance; it leads people to view themselves as fundamentally flawed because of their weight."

Weight stigma involves negative attitudes, stereotypes, and discrimination targeting people because of body size, most often larger bodies. Stigma manifests structurally through biased media and policies, interpersonally via teasing and discrimination, and internally when societal prejudice becomes self-belief. Internalized stigma produces self-directed beliefs like "I'm lazy" or "I have no willpower," undermining self-esteem and behavior. Experiencing weight stigma links to social isolation, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, avoidance of medical care, increased stress, poorer long-term health outcomes, and potentially reduced life expectancy. Internalization is more common among women, younger people, and those with binge eating disorder.

Read at Psychology Today