{"title":"Higher-weight social identity as a risk and protective factor in the negative health consequences of weight stigma: a systematic review.","authors":"Alice Hudson, Luisa Batalha, Joseph Ciarrochi","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-01755-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Weight stigma causes significant physical and psychological harm to its targets.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review aims to determine when identifying as a member of the higher-weight group exacerbates versus mitigates the adverse effects of weight stigma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>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).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>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).</p><p><strong>Limitations: </strong>Grey literature and unpublished studies were not reviewed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Initial evidence suggests that higher-weight social identity functions as both risk and protective factor in the relationship between weight stigma and well-being.</p><p><strong>Implications: </strong>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":"1209-1228"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12283344/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Obesity","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01755-z","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/4/16 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Weight stigma causes significant physical and psychological harm to its targets.
Objective: This review aims to determine when identifying as a member of the higher-weight group exacerbates versus mitigates the adverse effects of weight stigma.
Methods: 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).
Results: 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).
Limitations: Grey literature and unpublished studies were not reviewed.
Conclusions: Initial evidence suggests that higher-weight social identity functions as both risk and protective factor in the relationship between weight stigma and well-being.
Implications: 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.
背景：体重耻辱感会对其治疗对象造成显著的生理和心理伤害。目的：本综述旨在确定作为高体重群体的一员，何时会加剧或减轻体重耻辱感的不良影响。方法：检索时间为2025年1月10日，检索工具为PsycInfo、Medline、Scopus、Web of Science、Embase和CINAHL。在体重耻辱感与18种不同健康结果之间的关系中，高体重社会认同加剧了对高体重社会认同的保护作用（作为调节/中介）。本综述已在PROSPERO注册（ID: CRD42023415639）。结果：14项研究符合纳入标准。采用体重状况测量来评估高体重社会认同的研究发现，实际的和自我感知的高体重是预期排斥、饮食控制挑战、生理压力增加和污名化后更严重的功能残疾的风险因素。相反，测量个体与高体重组的联系的研究表明，更强的认同对自尊和痛苦有保护作用，但仅限于特定的个体（例如，那些内化体重偏见低的人）。局限性：未回顾灰色文献和未发表的研究。结论：初步证据表明，在体重污名与幸福感的关系中，较高体重的社会认同既是风险因素，也是保护因素。启示：未来的研究应该探索高体重社会认同的情感和评价成分，以加强对群体成员身份如何以及何时影响体重耻辱感不利影响的理解。这些知识可以为有针对性的干预措施提供信息，以改善高体重个体的健康状况。
期刊介绍：
The International Journal of Obesity is a multi-disciplinary forum for research describing basic, clinical and applied studies in biochemistry, physiology, genetics and nutrition, molecular, metabolic, psychological and epidemiological aspects of obesity and related disorders.
We publish a range of content types including original research articles, technical reports, reviews, correspondence and brief communications that elaborate on significant advances in the field and cover topical issues.
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