title: Perceived weight discrimination and changes in weight, waist circumference, and weight status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations between perceived weight discrimination and changes in weight, waist circumference, and weight status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from 2944 men and women aged ≥50 years participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Experiences of weight discrimination were reported in 2010-2011 and weight and waist circumference were objectively measured in 2008-2009 and 2012-2013. ANCOVAs were used to test associations between perceived weight discrimination and changes in weight and waist circumference. Logistic regression was used to test associations with changes in weight status. All analyses adjusted for baseline BMI, age, sex, and wealth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived weight discrimination was associated with relative increases in weight (+1.66 kg, P < 0.001) and waist circumference (+1.12 cm, P = 0.046). There was also a significant association with odds of becoming obese over the follow-up period (OR = 6.67, 95% CI 1.85-24.04) but odds of remaining obese did not differ according to experiences of weight discrimination (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.46-2.59).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that rather than encouraging people to lose weight, weight discrimination promotes weight gain and the onset of obesity. Implementing effective interventions to combat weight stigma and discrimination at the population level could reduce the burden of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beeken
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015430:Weight Gain