Introduction: People affected by obesity often experience weight stigma, which affects their mental and physical health. They may also experience internalised weight stigma (IWS) i.e. engage in self-blame about their weight, applying and endorsing negative weight-based stereotypes, leading to self-devaluation. Not much is known about the development of IWS. Studies suggest a relationship between external weight stigma and IWS; this study aims to investigate the relationship between these experiences, as well as shame, which may be at the emotional core of weight stigma and IWS.
Method: Over a two-week period, eight participants recorded various daily experiences of weight stigma, non weight-based stressful events, shame and IWS using brief survey data collection. Graphical representations of these experiences informed data-prompted interviews which explored these in more detail as well as other experiences of weight stigma, shame and IWS. Visual analysis was used to explore the daily survey data. Framework analysis was used to analyse the interview data.
Results: Visual analysis suggested IWS and shame scores tended to be higher in response to weight stigma, as opposed to stressful or neutral events, though analyses were not possible for all participants and differences between scores were small. Framework analysis of the qualitative data generated four themes: relationship between weight stigma, shame and IWS; development of IWS; other influences on fluctuations in IWS; and challenging IWS.
Discussion: Experiencing weight stigma may lead to momentary fluctuations in IWS, but also contributes to its development over time. Some forms of weight stigma may be more impactful and more likely to be internalised. Weight stigma experiences may shape a person’s attributional style, such that non-weight based stressful events or everyday stresses may lead to fluctuations in IWS. Challenging IWS may be possible via various processes (e.g. questioning the validity of the source of weight stigma). Future research may explore interventions to help people challenge IWS.
