Hudson Alice, Batalha Luisa, Ciarrochi Joseph
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, NSW, Australia.
School of Beahvioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Int J Obes (Lond). 2025 Apr 16. doi: 10.1038/s41366-025-01755-z.
Weight stigma causes significant physical and psychological harm to its targets.
This review aims to determine when identifying as a member of the higher-weight group exacerbates versus mitigates the adverse effects of weight stigma.
Searches were conducted on 10 January, 2025, using PsycInfo, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL. Evidence was synthesised in terms of exacerbating versus protective effects of higher-weight social identity (as moderator/mediator) in the relationship between weight stigma and 18 distinct health outcomes. This review is registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023415639).
Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies employing weight status measures to assess higher-weight social identity identified actual and self-perceived higher-weight as risk factors for anticipated rejection, dietary control challenges, increased physiological stress and greater functional disability following stigmatisation. Conversely, studies measuring individual connection with the higher-weight group revealed that stronger identification had protective effects on self-esteem and distress, but only for specific individuals (e.g., those with low internalised weight bias).
Grey literature and unpublished studies were not reviewed.
Initial evidence suggests that higher-weight social identity functions as both risk and protective factor in the relationship between weight stigma and well-being.
Future research should explore the emotional and evaluative components of higher-weight social identity to enhance understanding of how and when group membership influences the adverse effects of weight stigma. This knowledge can inform targeted interventions designed to improve the well-being of higher-weight individuals.
体重歧视会对其目标人群造成严重的身心伤害。
本综述旨在确定认同自己属于较高体重群体在何时会加剧或减轻体重歧视的不利影响。
于2025年1月10日使用PsycInfo、Medline、Scopus、Web of Science、Embase和CINAHL进行检索。根据较高体重社会身份（作为调节因素/中介因素）在体重歧视与18种不同健康结果之间关系中的加剧或保护作用，对证据进行了综合分析。本综述已在PROSPERO上注册（编号：CRD42023415639）。
14项研究符合纳入标准。采用体重状况测量方法来评估较高体重社会身份的研究发现，实际和自我感知的较高体重是预期被拒绝、饮食控制挑战、生理压力增加以及遭受歧视后功能残疾加剧的风险因素。相反，测量与较高体重群体个人联系的研究表明，更强的认同感对自尊和痛苦有保护作用，但仅针对特定个体（例如内化体重偏见较低的个体）。
未对灰色文献和未发表的研究进行综述。
初步证据表明，较高体重社会身份在体重歧视与幸福感之间的关系中既起风险因素作用，也起保护因素作用。
未来的研究应探索较高体重社会身份的情感和评价成分，以加深对群体成员身份如何以及何时影响体重歧视不利影响的理解。这些知识可为旨在改善较高体重个体幸福感的针对性干预措施提供参考。
