Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Int J Eat Disord. 2024 Nov;57(11):2292-2298. doi: 10.1002/eat.24277. Epub 2024 Aug 12.
Only approximately 20% of college students with an eating disorder (ED) seek treatment. One barrier to seeking treatment is weight discrimination. Past research demonstrates that experiencing weight discrimination is associated with increased ED risk and decreased in-person treatment engagement. Weight discrimination may be a particularly relevant treatment barrier for students who have a higher body weight given their higher likelihood of experiencing weight discrimination.
College students with a probable ED diagnosis (N = 372; M = 23.94; 73.12% women, 18.55% men, 6.18% another gender; 11.29% Asian, 4.57% Black, 12.63% Hispanic, 83.60% White, 4.84% Native American, and 0.54% another race) completed an online self-report survey that included the Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA), Experience of Weight Discrimination (EWD) Scale, and a 0-100 scale to indicate interest in participating in virtual guided self-help ED treatment.
Linear regression showed significant positive relationships between weight discrimination and ED-related psychiatric impairment and treatment interest.
Elevations in CIA scores corroborate past literature that suggested that weight discrimination was positively related to ED psychopathology. Contrary to past research, college students who experienced weight discrimination had greater treatment interest. Students who experience weight discrimination may view virtual self-guided treatment as less weight-stigmatizing due to the "do-it-yourself" approach and no in-person interactions. Findings highlight the potential impacts of weight discrimination on acceptability of ED-related care. Future research is needed to identify ways to reduce weight discrimination and promote weight-inclusive practices in the medical system.
仅有约 20%的患有饮食障碍（ED）的大学生寻求治疗。寻求治疗的一个障碍是体重歧视。过去的研究表明，经历体重歧视与 ED 风险增加和面对面治疗参与度降低有关。体重歧视可能是一个特别相关的治疗障碍，对于体重较高的学生来说，他们更有可能经历体重歧视。
有疑似 ED 诊断的大学生（N=372；M=23.94；73.12%为女性，18.55%为男性，6.18%为其他性别；11.29%为亚裔，4.57%为非裔，12.63%为西班牙裔，83.60%为白人，4.84%为美洲原住民，0.54%为其他种族）完成了一项在线自我报告调查，其中包括临床损伤评估（CIA）、体重歧视经历量表（EWD）和一个 0-100 量表，以表明对参与虚拟引导自助 ED 治疗的兴趣。
线性回归显示，体重歧视与 ED 相关的精神损伤和治疗兴趣之间存在显著的正相关关系。
CIA 评分的升高与过去的文献一致，表明体重歧视与 ED 精神病理学呈正相关。与过去的研究相反，经历体重歧视的大学生对治疗的兴趣更大。经历体重歧视的学生可能认为虚拟自我指导治疗由于“自助”方法和没有面对面互动，对 ED 相关护理的接受程度较低。研究结果强调了体重歧视对 ED 相关护理接受度的潜在影响。需要进一步研究来确定减少体重歧视和促进医疗系统中体重包容实践的方法。
