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Cited by 212Obesity and Health PracticesObesity, Physical Activity, DietEating Disorders and Behaviors

Pervasiveness, impact and implications of weight stigma

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Brown, Adrian, Flint, Stuart W., Batterham, Rachel L.·2022·eClinicalMedicine
DOI 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101408PMC PMC9046114
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Abstract

Evidence has accumulated to demonstrate the pervasiveness, impact and implications of weight stigma. As such, there is a need for concerted efforts to address weight stigma and discrimination that is evident within, policy, healthcare, media, workplaces, and education. The continuation of weight stigma, which is known to have a negative impact on mental and physical health, threatens the societal values of equality, diversity, and inclusion. This health policy review provides an analysis of the research evidence highlighting the widespread nature of weight stigma, its impact on health policy and the need for action at a policy level. We propose short- and medium-term recommendations to address weight stigma and in doing so, highlight the need change across society to be part of efforts to end weight stigma and discrimination. Funding: None.

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  • Part of the reason type 2 diabetes prevention programs are not more effective may be weight stigma, including stigma built into the programs.

    “The limited effectiveness of T2D prevention programs may be due in part to weight stigma, including the weight stigma inherent within prevention programs themselves (A. Brown et al., 2022).”

    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 A. Brown et al., 2022

    The ‘obesity strategy’ section says public-health interventions may unintentionally create weight stigma, and the Introduction says addressing stigma is important for obesity prevention. The paper does not establish that type 2 diabetes prevention programs have limited effectiveness or that weight stigma contributes to their limited effectiveness; its discussion concerns obesity policy and prevention more broadly. Our copy provides no page numbers for these passages. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Weight stigma and body shame produce psychological and emotional distress.

    “Weight stigma and body shame cause psychological and emotional distress (A. Brown et al., 2022; Emmer et al., 2020).”

    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 A. Brown et al., 2022

  • Weight stigma and body shame may heighten psychosocial and psychobiological stress responses and impede social connection, including when stemming from prevention programs.

    “Weight stigma and body shame may heighten psychosocial and psychobiological stress responses (e.g., A. Brown et al., 2022; Dickerson, 2008; Vadiveloo & Mattei, 2017) and impede social connection (Hunger et al., 2015)—including when stemming from prevention programs.”

    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 A. Brown et al., 2022

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Authors
Brown, A., Flint, S. W., & Batterham, R. L.
Affiliations
  • University College Hospital (GB)
  • University of Leeds (GB)
Corresponding author
Flint, Stuart W.
ORCID
Venue
eClinicalMedicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-05
Volume
47
Pages
101408
ISSN
2589-5370 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101408
PMC
PMC9046114
OpenAlex
W4224248891
Cited by
212
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 59 · 2025: 70 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 8
FWCI
8.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • EClinicalMedicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Johnson and Johnson
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Rosetrees Trust
  • Public Health England
  • Novo Nordisk
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords
weight stigma, weight discrimination, health policy, obesity, mental health, physical health, equality, diversity and inclusion, media representation, employment discrimination, health care discrimination

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