AN EXAMINATION OF EXPERIENCED WEIGHT STIGMA, INTERNALIZED WEIGHT BIAS, AND MALADAPTIVE EATING PATTERNS AMONG SEXUAL MINORITIES: A comparison between cis-gender, bisexual and lesbian women, bisexual and gay men, heterosexual men, and heterosexual women

Abstract

Previous research demonstrates the multiple negative effects of experiencing and internalizing weight stigma, including maladaptive eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction. There is minimal research examining the effects of experienced and internalized weight stigma within the LGBTQ+ community. Of interest is the effect that experiencing and internalizing weight stigma has on disordered eating patterns in LGBTQ+ populations. Existing literature shows that LGBTQ+ individuals are more prone to maladaptive eating patterns compared to their cis-gender, heterosexual counterparts. The purpose of this project was to explore the relationship between sexual orientation, maladaptive eating behaviors, experienced weight stigma (EWS) and internalized weight bias (IWB). The current thesis examined cis-gender sexual minority males and females compared to their heterosexual counterparts on levels of disordered eating, EWS, and IWB. It further examined the extent to which experienced and internalized weight stigma predicted levels of disordered eating in the context of sexual minority populations. Sexual minority and heterosexual participants differed on BMI, age, income, education, and college enrollment. Consistent with previous research, sexual minority individuals exhibited higher levels of disordered eating than their heterosexual counterparts. Notably, heterosexual males experienced significantly less disordered eating patterns compared to heterosexual females and sexual minority males and females. Sexual minority individuals had significantly more EWS than their heterosexual counterparts. Heterosexual males demonstrated significantly lower levels of IWB than heterosexual females, and sexual minority males and females. Interestingly, gender identity and sexual orientation interacted with both IWB and EWS to predict significant differences in maladaptive eating patterns. Significant main interactions between gender identity and sexual orientation exist in disordered eating patterns and IWB. This thesis expanded on current literature regarding eating and weight constructs in LGBTQ+ populations and demonstrated that there are differences in maladaptive eating, experiences of weight stigma and internalized weight bias between heterosexual and sexual minority persons.