title: Moderators of weight-based stigmatization among youth who are overweight and non-overweight: the role of gender, race, and body dissatisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : To identify demographic correlates and moderators of weight-based stigmatization in a diverse sample of children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  : A total of 157 children/adolescents aged 7 to 17 years and their parents participated in this study, and the following measurements were used: demographic questionnaire, child weight and height, figure ranking weight-based stigmatization, and body dissatisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : Weight-based stigmatization was greater among younger children and females. Gender moderated the relationship between age and weight-based stigmatization, with significant differences in endorsement of weight bias between child and adolescent females. Gender also moderated the relationship between race and weight-based stigmatization, with African-American females endorsing significantly lower levels of weight-based stigmatization than white females. Body dissatisfaction moderated the relationship between degree of overweight and weight-based stigmatization and served as a protective buffer from endorsement of weight-based stigmatization among children with greater degree of overweight but low body dissatisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : Weight-based stigmatization is prevalent, with certain age groups and populations at particular risk for its endorsement. Identification of correlates and moderators of weight-based stigmatization can inform the design of effective interventions to reduce its profound negative impact on children who are overweight or obese.
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. Wendy.Gray@cchmc.org
authors.forename: Wendy N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Stacey L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Janicke
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dumont-Driscoll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D057545:Social Stigma; D014481:United States