Robinson, Eric and Sutin, Angelina R. and Daly, Michael (2017) Perceived Weight Discrimination Mediates the Prospective Relation Between Obesity and Depressive Symptoms in U.S. and U.K. Adults. Health Psychology, 36 (2). pp. 112-121. ISSN 1930-7810

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Abstract

Objective: Obesity has been shown to increase risk of depression. Persons with obesity experience discrimination because of their body weight. Across 3 studies, we tested for the first time whether experiencing (perceived) weight-based discrimination explains why obesity is prospectively associated with increases in depressive symptoms. Method: Data from 3 studies, including the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2008/2009 –2012/2013), the Health and Retirement Study (2006/2008 –2010/2012), and Midlife in the United States (1995/1996 –2004/2005), were used to examine associations between obesity, perceived weight discrimination, and depressive symptoms among 20,286 U.S. and U.K. adults. Results: Across all 3 studies, Class II and III obesity were reliably associated with increases in depressive symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Perceived weight-based discrimination predicted increases in depressive symptoms over time and mediated the prospective association between obesity and depressive symptoms in all 3 studies. Persons with Class II and III obesity were more likely to report experiencing weight-based discrimination, and this explained approximately 31% of the obesity-related increase in depressive symptoms on average across the 3 studies. Conclusion: In U.S. and U.K. samples, the prospective association between obesity (defined using body mass index) and increases in depressive symptoms in adulthood may in part be explained by perceived weight discrimination

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: Robinson E, Sutin A, Daly M. Perceived weight discrimination mediates the prospective relation between obesity and depressive symptoms in U.S. and U.K. adults. Health Psychol. 2017;36(2):112-121. doi:10.1037/hea0000426
Keywords:	obesity; depression; obesity stigma; discrimination; weight stigma;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	13651
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000426
Depositing User:	Michael Daly
Date Deposited:	23 Nov 2020 16:09
Journal or Publication Title:	Health Psychology
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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