The Impact of Weight Labels on Body Image, Internalized Weight Stigma, Affect, Perceived Health, and Intended Weight Loss Behaviors in Normal-Weight and Overweight College Women

• Published in: American journal of health promotion Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 484 - 490
• Main Authors: Essayli, Jamal H., Murakami, Jessica M., Wilson, Rebecca E., Latner, Janet D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2017; American Journal of Health Promotion
• Subjects: Affect; Assignment; Between-subjects design; Bias; Body image; Body Image - psychology; Body Weight; College students; Discontent; Double-Blind Method; Emotions; Female; Health promotion; Health Status; Humans; Intention; Internalization; Manipulation; Negative emotions; Obesity; Overweight; Overweight - psychology; Positive emotions; Psychological Tests; Self Concept; Self image; Social Stigma; Stigma; Undergraduate students; Weight Loss; Young Adult; weight labels; body image; weight stigma; overweight; body mass index
• ISSN: 0890-1171; 2168-6602; 2168-6602
• DOI: 10.1177/0890117116661982

Purpose: To explore the psychological impact of weight labels. Design: A double-blind experiment that randomly informed participants that they were “normal weight” or “overweight.” Setting: Public university in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Participants: Normal-weight and overweight female undergraduates (N = 113). Measures: The Body Image States Scale, Stunkard Rating Scale, Weight Bias Internalization Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, General Health question from the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, modified version of the Weight Loss Methods Scale, and a manipulation check. Analysis: A 2 × 2 between-subjects analysis of variance explored the main effects of the assigned weight label and actual weight and interactions between assigned weight label and actual weight. Results: Significant main effects of the assigned weight label emerged on measures of body dissatisfaction, F(1, 109) = 12.40, p = .001, η p 2 = 0.10, internalized weight stigma, F(1, 108) = 4.35, p = .039, η p 2 = .04, and negative affect, F(1, 108) = 9.22, p = .003, η p 2 = .08. Significant assigned weight label × actual weight interactions were found on measures of perceived body image, F(1, 109) = 6.29, p = .014, η p 2 = .06, and perceived health, F(1, 109) = 4.18, p = .043, η p 2 = .04. Conclusion: A weight label of “overweight” may have negative psychological consequences, particularly for overweight women.