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Prevalence and Correlates of Weight Stigma among Postpartum Women in China

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  • Mei Sun

    (Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha 410017, China
    Xiangya Center for Evidence-Based Practice & Healthcare Innovation: A Joanna Briggs Institute Affiliated Group, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jiayuan Peng

    (Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha 410017, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lisa Lommel

    (School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA)

Abstract

Weight stigma is linked to a variety of psychological and health problems. In the postpartum period, women may be more likely to experience weight-based discrimination because of their changing social roles, weight, and the new functions their bodies fulfill. However, few studies have explored the issue of postpartum women’s weight stigma. Thus, to investigate the prevalence and correlates of weight stigma for postpartum women in China, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 507 postpartum women. Results showed that almost one quarter (21.1%) of postpartum women claimed to have experienced perceived weight stigma (PWS). Two thirds (66.1%) scored at the mean and 14.8% at the highest levels of weight bias internalization (WBI). During the postnatal period, the conditions of those most likely to report experiences of weight-based discrimination included low income [b = −0.203, p = 0.004], occupation as a worker [b = 0.921, p = 0.017] or farmer [b = 0.826, p = 0.033], stress [b = 0.044, p = 0.035], depression [b = 0.057, p = 0.021], and higher WBIS [b = 0.018, p = 0.002]. In addition, postpartum women who lived alone [ b = 7.511, p = 0.048], were overweight or obese [ b = 5.443, p = 0.000], and had higher PWS [ b = 0.897, p = 0.004] and anxiety symptoms [ b = 0.219, p = 0.011] had higher levels of internalized weight stigma. Findings from this study provide a foundation to better understand characteristics of postpartum women in China who are at risk for weight stigma.

Suggested Citation

  • Mei Sun & Jiayuan Peng & Lisa Lommel, 2022. "Prevalence and Correlates of Weight Stigma among Postpartum Women in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14692-:d:967262
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nora A. Althumiri & Mada H. Basyouni & Norah AlMousa & Mohammed F. AlJuwaysim & Adel A. Alhamdan & Faisal Saeed Al-Qahtani & Nasser F. BinDhim & Saleh A. Alqahtani, 2021. "Exploring Weight Stigma in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Borja Romero-Gonzalez & Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez & Raquel Gonzalez-Perez & Pilar Delgado-Puertas & Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez, 2018. "Newborn infants’ hair cortisol levels reflect chronic maternal stress during pregnancy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Chung-Ying Lin & Meng-Che Tsai & Chih-Hsiang Liu & Yi-Ching Lin & Yi-Ping Hsieh & Carol Strong, 2019. "Psychological Pathway from Obesity-Related Stigma to Anxiety via Internalized Stigma and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-9, November.
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