The effects of causal beliefs and binge eating on the stigmatization of obesity.
OBJECTIVE
Weight disorders and overeating are increasingly labeled as addictions. It is important to identify the consequences of this label on the stigmatization of obesity.


METHODS
Participants (N = 374) were assigned randomly to one of six conditions, in which they read a scenario about an obese woman either with or without binge eating, followed by an account of the cause of her obesity as psychological, a biological addiction, or ambiguous. Participants then completed questionnaires designed to assess stigma and prognostic beliefs.


RESULTS
Participants in the obesity with binge eating condition rated obese persons more negatively and as having a worse prognosis. The causal manipulation check revealed no difference between groups and there were no significant effects of this condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Behavior (binge eating) has important implications for understanding the stigmatization of obesity.
Bannon
Katie L
KL
Department of Psychology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA. katelbannon@gmail.com
Hunter-Reel
Dorian
D
Wilson
G Terence
GT
Karlin
Robert A
RA
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult