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The psychological consequences of weight change trajectories: Evidence from quantitative and qualitative data

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  • Carr, Deborah
  • Jaffe, Karen

Abstract

We use quantitative and qualitative data to explore the psychological impact of weight change among American adults. Using data from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study, a survey of more than 3000 adults ages 25–74 in 1995, we contrast underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese I, and obese II/III persons along five psychosocial outcomes: positive mood, negative mood, perceived interpersonal discrimination, self-acceptance, and self-satisfaction. We further assess whether these relationships are contingent upon one's body mass index (BMI) at age 21. We find a strong inverse association between adult BMI and each of the five outcomes, reflecting the stigma associated with high body weight. However, overweight adults who were also overweight at age 21 are more likely than persons who were previously slender to say they were “very satisfied” with themselves. Results from 40 in-depth semi-structured interviews reveal similarly that persons who were persistently overweight or obese accept their weight as part of their identity, whereas those who experienced substantial weight increases (or decreases) struggle between two identities: the weight they actually are, and the weight that they believe exemplifies who they are. We discuss implications for stigma theory, and the ways that stigma exits and entries affect psychological well-being.

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  • Carr, Deborah & Jaffe, Karen, 2012. "The psychological consequences of weight change trajectories: Evidence from quantitative and qualitative data," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 419-430.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:10:y:2012:i:4:p:419-430
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2012.04.007
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    1. Han, Euna & Norton, Edward C. & Powell, Lisa M., 2011. "Direct and indirect effects of body weight on adult wages," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 381-392.
    2. Zagorsky, Jay L., 2005. "Health and wealth: The late-20th century obesity epidemic in the U.S," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 296-313, July.
    3. Koch, Daniel, 2011. "Waaler revisited: The anthropometrics of mortality," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 106-117, January.
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    3. Tamara O. Perdue & Ann Schreier & Melvin Swanson & Janice Neil & Robert Carels, 2018. "Evolving self view and body image concerns in female postoperative bariatric surgery patients," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(21-22), pages 4018-4027, November.

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