Comparing measurement of internalized weight stigma and body dissatisfaction.
Open accessAbstract
Respective conceptualizations of internalized weight stigma and body dissatisfaction are distinct; however, strong relationships between measures of these two constructs prompts consideration about if these are truly unique constructs or whether current measurement tools are not adequately capturing their uniqueness. In this cross-sectional study, 480 U.S. women (78.8% white; M BMI = 25.9) ages 18-40 years, recruited from Amazon's MechanicalTurk and a mid-sized university, completed an online survey with the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M), a modified Body Parts Satisfaction Scale (BPSS), and other validated measures of body image, eating behavior, and mental health. Exploratory factor analysis of the WBIS-M and the BPSS supported a two-factor solution, although two items from the WBIS-M loaded with BPSS items. After removing these items, the 9-item version of the WBIS-M demonstrated stronger relationships with dysfunctional eating and mental health symptoms than did the BPSS (ꞵ range = 0.32-0.62 vs. 0.01-0.18, respectively). Findings from this study provide evidence to support the validity of WBIS-M and BPSS measuring unique constructs, suggesting that internalized weight stigma can be differentiated from body dissatisfaction. This study also highlights the need for further research that examines current measurement tools for internalized weight stigma and body dissatisfaction.
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The extent to which body shame and internalized weight bias are distinct constructs lacks clear consensus.
“The extent to which body shame and internalized weight bias are distinct constructs lacks a clear consensus and warrants further exploration.”
From A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Informed Diabetes Prevention Program Reduces Body Shame and Distress. (2025) · cites this paper as Leget et al., 2023
Weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction have demonstrated overlap in some measures but not in others.
“Weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction have demonstrated overlap in some measures (Saunders et al., 2022) but not in others (Leget et al., 2023).”
From A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Informed Diabetes Prevention Program Reduces Body Shame and Distress. (2025) · cites this paper as Leget et al., 2023
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“Internal - ized slimness can indeed predict body dissatisfaction, with its influence proving more harmful to women not meeting the standards, such as those living with overweight or obesity (Leget et al., 2023).”
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“Weight bias internalization and body dissatisfaction have demonstrated overlap in some measures (Saunders et al., 2022) but not in others (Leget et al., 2023).”
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“Indeed, body image dissatisfaction (BID) involving negative emotional, cognitive, and behavioral facets of body size and shape (33) is conceptually close to IWB (34), as both entail the application of undesirable body-related stereotypes to the self (35).”
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“IWS is related to but distinct from the concept body image and body dissatisfaction, with IWS showing greater associations with decreased physical and mental quality of life when compared with body dissatisfaction (Leget et al., 2023; Nutter et al., 2024; Purton et al., 2019).”
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- Authors
- Leget, D. L., LaCaille, L. J., & Pearl, R. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida Health (US)
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (US)
- Corresponding author
- Leget, Dakota L.
- Venue
- Body Image
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-12
- Volume
- 47
- Pages
- 101622
- ISSN
- 1740-1445 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4386435217
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 4.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 278 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Body Image (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- University of Minnesota Duluth
- National Institutes of Health (DP2MH132938, K23HL140176, R03HL160603)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- internalized weight stigma, body dissatisfaction, construct validity, factor structure, dysfunctional eating, psychiatric symptoms, women
- MeSH terms
- Body Dissatisfaction, Weight Prejudice, Body Image, Body Weight, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Psychometrics, Social Stigma
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