Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

September 11, 2020

Weight Stigma as a Predictor of Distress and Maladaptive Eating Behaviors During COVID-19: Longitudinal Findings From the EAT Study

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• Among participants in the COVID-19 Eating and Activity over Time (C-EAT) study (n=584), young adults who have experienced weight stigma were found to have increased vulnerability to distress and maladaptive eating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic experiences of weight stigma predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms, stress, eating as a coping strategy, and an increased likelihood of binge eating (OR=2.9) among young adults during the pandemic. Prior weight stigma was unrelated to physical activity during the pandemic.

Puhl et al. (Sept 10, 2020). Weight Stigma as a Predictor of Distress and Maladaptive Eating Behaviors During COVID-19: Longitudinal Findings From the EAT Study. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa077