Weight stigma in pediatric type 1 diabetes: An associated risk for disordered eating?

Abstract

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have elevated eating disorder risk. No studies have examined weight stigma as a potential factor associated with disordered eating. This study investigated cross-sectional associations among weight-based victimization, weight bias internalization, and disordered eating in adolescents with T1D. Adolescents (12–17 years; N = 166) self-reported experiences of weight-based victimization from peers, family members, and healthcare professionals. The Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS) and Diabetes Eating Problems Survey (DEPS-R) assessed internalized weight bias and disordered eating, respectively. In a series of multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses (controlling for zBMI, diabetes duration, HbA1c, sex), weight bias internalization, weight-based victimization, and frequency of weight-based victimization by peers, family, and healthcare professionals were all positively associated with disordered eating. Weight stigma is an understudied but potentially important factor to address in adolescents with T1D. Reducing weight stigma may be a promising, novel target for eating disorder prevention in this population.