title: How Formerly Overweight and Obese Individuals Negotiate Disclosure of Their Weight Loss.
abstract: Overweight and obese individuals frequently experience weight-based stigma, and reducing stigma is one reason people want to lose weight. However, research suggests even after individuals become a normal weight, knowledge of their old body size can result in stigma. Through interviews of 30 formerly overweight or obese individuals and the framework of Communication Privacy Management theory, this study found the vast majority of participants perceived more benefits from disclosing their larger identity than risks, regardless of weight-loss method. Participants revealed their weight loss in order to inspire others, build relationships, or hold themselves accountable. Conversely, a few participants concealed to protect their thinner identity (i.e., they feared stigma) or to avoid coming across as boastful. In contrast to previous studies, this investigation suggests most participants were not dissuaded from revealing their former body size due to a threat of residual stigma. Participants' disclosure was overwhelmingly met with encouraging and supportive responses.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication , North Carolina State University.
authors.forename: Lynsey K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Romo
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*