Observational studyBMJ open2023
The role of stress and health behaviour in linking weight discrimination and health: a secondary data analysis in England.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Understanding the Relationship Between Weight Discrimination and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Diabetes: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).International journal of behavioral medicine · 2026Article
- Weight stigma and engagement in physical health behaviours among young adults in India.Health psychology and behavioral medicine · 2026Article
- Weight-based discrimination and cortisol output: A systematic review.Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology · 2025Review
- Weight discrimination partially mediates the longitudinal relationship between Body Mass Index and pain.The journal of pain · 2025Article
- Navigating weight, risk and lifestyle conversations in maternity care: a qualitative study among pregnant women with obesity.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- The relationship between gender discrimination and wellbeing in middle-aged and older women.PloS one · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo examine the role of stress and health-risk behaviours in relationships between weight discrimination and health and well-being.
designSecondary data analysis of an observational cohort study.
settingThe English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
participantsData were from 4341 adults (≥50 years) with overweight/obesity. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We tested associations between perceived weight discrimination at baseline (2010/2011) and self-rated health, limiting long-standing illness, depressive symptoms, quality of life and life satisfaction over 4-year follow-up (2010/2011; 2014/2015). Potential mediation by stress exposure (hair cortisol) and health-risk behaviours (smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption) was assessed.
resultsCross-sectionally, perceived weight discrimination was associated with higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health (OR=2.05 (95% CI 1.49 to 2.82)), limiting long-standing illness (OR=1.76 (95% CI 1.29 to 2.41)) and depressive symptoms (OR=2.01 (95% CI 1.41 to 2.85)) and lower quality of life (B=-5.82 (95% CI -7.01 to -4.62)) and life satisfaction (B=-2.36 (95% CI -3.25 to -1.47)). Prospectively, weight discrimination was associated with higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health (OR=1.63 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.40)) and depressive symptoms (OR=2.37 (95% CI 1.57 to 3.60)) adjusting for baseline status. Those who reported discrimination had higher hair cortisol concentrations (B=0.14 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.25)) and higher odds of physical inactivity (OR=1.90 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.05)). These variables did not significantly mediate associations between discrimination and health outcomes.
conclusionsWeight discrimination is associated with poor health and well-being. While this discrimination is associated with stress exposure and physical inactivity, these variables explain little of the association between discrimination and poorer outcomes.
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