Understanding the Link between Weight Self-Stigma and Eating Disorders in Young Women: A Study at Shaqra University

Abstract

Background and Aims: Weight stigma is on the rise in Saudi Arabia and has been found in various research studies to be associated with multiple psychological issues among Saudis. However, the association between weight stigma and eating disorders remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine the association between weight stigma and eating behaviors among young women in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on differences in weight stigma between individuals at risk of developing eating disorders. It explores how weight stigma is connected to various disordered eating behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 417 young women who were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using self-administered online questionnaires from January to June 2024. Results: The study found that young women at risk for eating disorders reported significantly higher weight stigma, with obese participants experiencing greater self-stigma than other weight groups. Dieting behaviors were positively correlated with self-stigma, indicating that those who diet may have more negative self-assessments. Bulimic behaviors were associated with fear of enacted stigma, linking disordered eating to perceived external judgment. In contrast, oral control behaviors showed a negative correlation with self-devaluation, suggesting that individuals with higher oral control may experience less weight-related self-stigma. Conclusions: These findings underscore the critical role of stigma in exacerbating eating disorders among young Saudi women. Addressing weight stigma through targeted interventions is essential for improving mental health outcomes and fostering healthier eating behaviors within this population.

References

1. 1.Lee KM, Wang C, Du H, Hunger J, Tomiyama AJ. Weight stigma as a stressor: A preliminary multi-wave, longitudinalstudytestingthebiobehavioral pathways of the Cyclic Obesity/ Weight-Based Stigma (COBWEBS) 90 Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences,Vol.13, Issue2,April-2025,Shawwal-1446 Understanding the Link betweenWeight Self-StigmaandEatingDisordersinYoungWomen:AStudyatShaqraUniversity model. Appetite. 2024;107573.
2. 2.Pearl RL, Wadden TA, Groshon LC, Fitterman-Harris HF, Bach C, LaFata EM. Refining the conceptualization and assessment of internalized weight stigma: A mixed methods approach. Body Image. 2023;44:93-102.
3. 3.Althumiri NA, Basyouni MH, Al- Mousa N, AlJuwaysim MF, Alhamdan AA, Al-Qahtani FS, et al. Exploring weight stigma in Saudi Arabia: A nationwide cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(17):9141.
4. 4.Alissa N. Cultural challenges to weight management: A qualitative study of Saudi women’s experiences. J Community Health Nurs. 2022. doi: 10.1080/07370016.2022.2028062. doi:10.1080/07370016.2022.2028062
5. 5.AlShebali M, AlHadi A, Waller G. The impact of ongoing westernization on eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction in a sample of undergraduate Saudi women. Eat Weight Disord. 2021;26:1835-44.
6. 6.Alsulami S, Baig M, Ahmad T, Althagafi N, Hazzazi E, Alsayed R, et al. Obesity prevalence, physical activity, and dietary practices among adults in Saudi Arabia. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1124051.
7. 7.Huang PC, Latner JD, Bevan N, Griffiths MD, Chen JS, Huang CH, et al. Internalized weight stigma and psychological distress mediate the association of perceived weight stigma with food addiction among young adults: A cross-sectional study. J Eat Disord. 2024. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024- 01112-x. doi:10.1186/s40337-024-
8. 8.Jordan A, Levinson SS, Kinkel-Ram S, Myers B, Hunger JM. A systematic review of weight stigma and disordered eating cognitions and behaviors. Body Image. 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101678. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101678
9. 9.Thompson SK. Sampling. Vol. 755. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 2012. 18.Garner DM, Olmsted MP, Bohr Y, Garfinkel PE. The eating attitudes test: Psychometric features and clinical correlates.PsycholMed.1982;12(4):871-8.
10. 10.Puhl RM, Heuer CA. Obesity stigma: A review of the literature and implications for public health. Am J Public Health. 2010;100(6):1019-28. 28.DouglasV,Varnado-SullivanP.Weight stigmatization, internalization, and eating disorder symptoms: The role of emotion dysregulation. Stigma Health. 2016;1(3):166. 29.Simone M, Lockhart G. Two distinct mediated pathways to disordered eating in response to weight stigmatization and their application to prevention programs. J Am Coll Health. 2016;64(7):520-6. 30.Papatsaraki A, Pappa D, Koreli A, Kourti FE, Manthou P, Chasaki K, et al. Investigation of internalized weight-related stigma: Progression to dietary addiction and the role of stress. Cureus. 2024. doi: 10.7759/cureus.55007. doi:10.7759/cureus.55007