title: Weight stigma and eating behaviours in elementary school children: A prospective population-based study.
abstract: The relevance of weight stigma as an important factor in disordered eating has been supported by research. However, because most of the studies were cross-sectional and focussed on older children, the causal relationships could not be fully determined in childhood. The current study explores the role of weight stigma in body dissatisfaction and eating behaviours. The sample consisted of 773 girls and 713 boys, aged 6-11 years, who completed surveys assessing weight stigma experiences, body dissatisfaction and eating behaviours at two points of measurement, approximately one year apart. The children's external and disordered eating was rated via parental questionnaires. As expected, the pattern of the associations between weight status, weight stigma, body dissatisfaction and eating behaviours differed by gender. Experience of weight stigma in girls led to external and restrained eating one year later, whereas in boys no such association was observed. Body dissatisfaction mediated the association between weight stigma and restrained eating behaviours in girls, whereas in boys, body dissatisfaction directly influenced restrained eating behaviours. However, in both girls and boys weight status predicted body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, while weight stigma did not have a direct effect on disordered eating. Results suggest that interventions involving weight stigma should be a part of eating disorder prevention programmes, and gender-specific pathways should be considered.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany. Electronic address: anna.jendrzyca@uni-Potsdam.de.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Jendrzyca
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany. Electronic address: warschb@uni-Potsdam.de.
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Warschburger
mesh_terms: D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000068959:Body Weight Maintenance; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D057545:Social Stigma
keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Childhood; Disordered eating behaviours; Prospective study; Weight stigma