Weight Stigma and Mental Health in Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7801773 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1465-735X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01468693 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Pediatr Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: 1998- : Cary, NC : Oxford University Press
      Original Publication: Washington, Society of Pediatric Psychology.
    • Subject Terms:
      Mental Health* ; Weight Prejudice*; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Overweight ; Young Adult
    • Abstract:
      Objective: Over the past two decades, there has been a steady increase in research focused on the association between weight-based stigma and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between weight stigma and mental health in youth.
      Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, PsychInfo, and Embase databases was conducted in January 2020. Inclusion criteria included the following: (a) examined an association between weight stigma and a mental health outcome, (b) mean sample age <18 (+1 standard deviation) years, (c) written in English, and (d) peer reviewed. Forty eligible articles were identified. The moderating effects of age, sex (percent female), weight status (percent with overweight/obesity), and study quality were examined.
      Results: Overall, meta-analytic findings using a random-effects model indicated a statistically significant moderate association between weight stigma and poorer mental health outcomes (r = .32, 95% confidence interval [0.292, 0.347], p < .001). Age and study quality each moderated the association between weight stigma and mental health. Generally, the study quality was fair to poor, with many studies lacking validated measurement of weight stigma.
      Conclusions: Although there was a significant association between weight stigma and mental health in youth, study quality hinders the current body of literature. Furthermore, findings highlight the lack of consideration of internalized weight stigma in child populations, the importance of using validated measures of weight stigma, and the need for increased awareness of how these associations affect populations of diverse backgrounds.
      (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].)
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    • Grant Information:
      F32 HS027071 United States HS AHRQ HHS; T32 HL076134 United States HL NHLBI NIH HHS
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: adolescents; meta-analysis; preschool children; psychosocial functioning; school-age children; systematic review
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20211118 Date Completed: 20220502 Latest Revision: 20230711
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      PMC8898386
    • Accession Number:
      10.1093/jpepsy/jsab110
    • Accession Number:
      34791368