Research
Adherence
Weight stigma and discrimination are significant behavioral and emotional mechanisms linking high body weight to psychological distress.
Recognize that weight stigma is a real and harmful social force, not a personal failing. Seek supportive environments and mental health resources that address the impact of discrimination.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Prominent among the behavioural and emotional factors are the adverse experiences of people with high body weight resulting from negative interpersonal and social attitudes. One reason why many people living with obesity experience severe psychological distress is because they are exposed to weight stigma and discrimination.
Why this rating
Based on meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies and population data.
Source
Obesity and psychological distress
Andrew Steptoe et al. · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · 2023
DOI 10.1098/rstb.2022.0225
narrative_reviewCited 131×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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