title: The Impact of Weight Labels on Body Image, Internalized Weight Stigma, Affect, Perceived Health, and Intended Weight Loss Behaviors in Normal-Weight and Overweight College Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the psychological impact of weight labels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind experiment that randomly informed participants that they were "normal weight" or "overweight."
  
  
  METHODS
  Public university in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal-weight and overweight female undergraduates (N = 113).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Body Image States Scale, Stunkard Rating Scale, Weight Bias Internalization Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, General Health question from the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, modified version of the Weight Loss Methods Scale, and a manipulation check.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2 × 2 between-subjects analysis of variance explored the main effects of the assigned weight label and actual weight and interactions between assigned weight label and actual weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant main effects of the assigned weight label emerged on measures of body dissatisfaction, F(1, 109) = 12.40, p = .001, [Formula: see text] = 0.10, internalized weight stigma, F(1, 108) = 4.35, p = .039, [Formula: see text] = .04, and negative affect, F(1, 108) = 9.22, p = .003, [Formula: see text] = .08. Significant assigned weight label × actual weight interactions were found on measures of perceived body image, F(1, 109) = 6.29, p = .014, [Formula: see text] = .06, and perceived health, F(1, 109) = 4.18, p = .043, [Formula: see text] = .04.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A weight label of "overweight" may have negative psychological consequences, particularly for overweight women.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Jamal H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Essayli
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Janet D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Latner
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D057545:Social Stigma; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: body image; body mass index; overweight; weight labels; weight stigma