Internalized weight bias mediates the relationship between depressive symptoms and disordered eating behavior among women who think they are overweight.
This study tested the potential mediating role of Internalized Weight Bias (IWB) in the relationship between depressive symptoms (DEP-SX) and disordered eating behavior. In particular, we hypothesized that IWB may be an intervening variable in the well documented association between depression and disordered eating.



College women (N=172) who were taking undergraduate psychology courses and who endorsed thinking they were overweight completed the Patient Health Questionnaire depression screener (PHQ-9), the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS), and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Bootstrapping mediation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between these variables.



IWB was significantly correlated with eating disorder symptoms and DEP-SX, but not Body Mass Index. Mediation analyses supported a model in which IWB mediated the relationship between DEP-SX and disordered eating behavior.



Results indicate that individuals with elevated DEP-SX may be likely to internalize weight bias, which may in turn lead to maladaptive approaches to eating and weight control, regardless of one's actual weight status.
Eastern Michigan University, Department of Psychology, United States. Electronic address: rsienko@emich.edu.
Rachel M
RM
Sienko
Eastern Michigan University, Department of Psychology, United States.
Karen K
KK
Saules
Eastern Michigan University, Department of Psychology, United States.
Meagan M
MM
Carr
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression; D004435:Eating; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Depressive symptoms; Eating concern; Internalized weight bias; Restraint; Shape concern; Weight concern