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Overweight and Lonely? A Representative Study on Loneliness in Obese People and Its Determinants
Abstract
Obesity is associated with physical and medical restrictions and comorbidities, but it also entails psychosocial effects such as social isolation and feelings of rejection. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between loneliness and weight stigma in a large sample of obese individuals. Results were derived from a large representative sample (n = 1,000). The survey included the 3-item version of the UCLA loneliness scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as well as the Weight Bias Internalization scale (WBIS). The mean UCLA score was 1.943 (SD = 0.771). Respondents with higher levels of depression (B = 0.176), higher internalized weight bias (B = 0.435), and the experience of discrimination (B = 0.286) reported higher levels of loneliness. Future studies should investigate the mediation pathways between obesity, loneliness, and its determinants to provide a framework for successful interventions as part of obesity management programs.
Discussion
According to the current study, a higher BMI can be associated with higher levels of depression, higher internalization of weight bias, and a higher rate of discrimination experiences. Furthermore, the self-reported health status was significantly worse among those participants with higher BMI categories. This could account for the generally high level of loneliness observed in this sample, as obesity has been linked to worse self-reported health only in the presence of high levels of loneliness [28]. When comparing weight categories, obese individuals are in general lonelier in the current sample, regardless of their class of obesity. This has been shown in previous studies as well [29]. Secondly, with regard to loneliness, participants with higher levels of depression, higher internalized weight bias, and the experience of discrimination reported higher levels of loneliness.
Conclusions
Overall, the results of the current study suggest that loneliness may occur more often in obese individuals and that it is related to depressive symptoms, greater self-stigma, and weight discrimination. Social isolation or loneliness is known to be a risk factor for precarious health and greater mortality. Loneliness is also linked to obesity; however, cause and effect in this relationship still remain unclear. It may be seen as a complication or a trigger for obesity. Therefore, loneliness should be acknowledged as a public health challenge that needs to be addressed in terms of multidisciplinary weight management. Avoidance of medical care (i.e., due to social withdrawal or a lack of trust in others) could increase the burden and lower overall quality of life. On the other hand, it may lower the incidence of help-seeking behavior in terms of weight management. If people understand the complexity of this disease, stigmatization and discrimination may be eliminated and, thereby, reduce social distancing. On the other hand, if obese individuals feel understood and accepted, they may not fear social situations as a threat [34, 35]. It could be one way to support those you are vulnerable to weight bias by increasing trust and helping them to build up social networks, because social relationships are important not only for physical health but also for emotional and psychological well-being.
Fat people need to get a life/out more: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/500095
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