Obese or overweight individuals are always on the receiving end when it comes to matters of weight-based stigmatization and bias from the general public and even more surprisingly health care providers [1]. Weight-based stigmatizations experienced by these individuals are as a result of negative characterization (for instance laziness [2], stupidity and ugliness) and discrimination by the society. If not well managed, these stigmatization and bias internalization could affect the individual’s psychological wellbeing and even result in other mental and health conditions such as uncontrolled eating, depression, and somatic symptomology.
Despite weight discrimination having many undesired impacts, this issue is still on the rise (almost on the …show more content…
There are also studies on how people react towards overweight or obese people and how the obese people take such reactions. Some of these studies show the existence of a correlation between stigmatization of obese individuals and the effect on psychological wellbeing and functioning. Due to this, obese individuals might have to develop some strategies, such as uncontrolled eating, to help cope up with psychological distress it brings about [4].
Recent studies indicate that psychological distress and binge eating (a form of uncontrolled eating) is mainly associated with weight-based stigmatization. Experiences from weight-stigmatization could also lead to psychological symptomology, depression, anxiety and even suspiciousness among these individuals [5]. However, there is still for more research on the interrelationship between weight-based stigmatization, internalization and their effects are given that most studies are focused on the impacts of weight-based stigmatization and internalization without showing their …show more content…
Given that DASS-21 is great reliance in the populations of Austria, United Kingdom, United States and Asia [8] is one of the main reasons that prompted its choice. The DASS-21 contains three main subclasses (depression, anxiety, and stress) that house seven items each. However, this study only assessed depression subclass. Participants responded to each of the seven items using a 4-point scale which ranged 0-3 (where 0 = never while 3 = almost always). Scores for each item was summed up, and the score for the subclass ranges from 0-21. Higher scores indicated higher levels of depression while low scores low levels of
Despite weight discrimination having many undesired impacts, this issue is still on the rise (almost on the …show more content…
There are also studies on how people react towards overweight or obese people and how the obese people take such reactions. Some of these studies show the existence of a correlation between stigmatization of obese individuals and the effect on psychological wellbeing and functioning. Due to this, obese individuals might have to develop some strategies, such as uncontrolled eating, to help cope up with psychological distress it brings about [4].
Recent studies indicate that psychological distress and binge eating (a form of uncontrolled eating) is mainly associated with weight-based stigmatization. Experiences from weight-stigmatization could also lead to psychological symptomology, depression, anxiety and even suspiciousness among these individuals [5]. However, there is still for more research on the interrelationship between weight-based stigmatization, internalization and their effects are given that most studies are focused on the impacts of weight-based stigmatization and internalization without showing their …show more content…
Given that DASS-21 is great reliance in the populations of Austria, United Kingdom, United States and Asia [8] is one of the main reasons that prompted its choice. The DASS-21 contains three main subclasses (depression, anxiety, and stress) that house seven items each. However, this study only assessed depression subclass. Participants responded to each of the seven items using a 4-point scale which ranged 0-3 (where 0 = never while 3 = almost always). Scores for each item was summed up, and the score for the subclass ranges from 0-21. Higher scores indicated higher levels of depression while low scores low levels of