Content area
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of weight stigma on weight bias internalization (WBI) and atypical anorexia nervosa (AN) symptoms using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Atypical AN is only diagnostically distinguishable from AN in that the weight criterion falls in the normal to above range. Weight stigma refers to the weight based discriminatory acts targeting high weight individuals and is associated with detrimental health effects. Weight stigma may also result in WBI, or applying weight-based stereotypes to oneself. Weight stigma research is limited, focusing primarily on binge eating disorder and high weight, overlooking atypical AN. High weight individuals with atypical AN may encounter weight stigma in several contexts, and specifically in eating disorder healthcare. This study aimed to understand how these weight stigmatizing experiences influenced current eating disorder symptoms and experiences of eating disorder treatment for adults with atypical AN.
Participants were recruited through social media by responding to an online post for adults who have received treatment for atypical AN and encountered weight stigma. Participants completed a survey consisting of demographic questions, treatment histories, and completed measures of weight stigma, WBI, and eating disorder symptoms, and a subsample of participants completed a qualitative survey about their weight stigmatizing experiences in treatment. Quantitative results (N = 273) indicated increased dietary restraint, eating, shape, and weight concern, clinical impairment due to eating disorder symptoms in relation to both weight stigma and WBI, consistent with the quantitative hypotheses. Qualitative results (N = 30) revealed three themes and 10 subthemes regarding provider weight bias, peer weight bias, and participants beliefs that they were not “sick enough” to deserve treatment or recovery. The results of this study may inform treatment providers and encourage weight neutral care. Additionally, this study extends the growing body of literature regarding atypical AN, and seeks to amplify the lived experience of the participants.
