(PS7-41) Explicit, Implicit, and Internalized Weight Bias: Relations with Self-perceptions of Weight and Current Dieting

Negative attitudes regarding body size, including explicit, internalized, and implicit weight bias, are associated with deleterious outcomes, particularly for those in larger bodies (Puhl et al., 2008). This study evaluated the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and three different forms of weight bias to determine their relationships to disordered eating risk. Specifically, we evaluated the relations of explicit, internalized, and implicit weight bias to self-perceived body size and current dieting, with BMI.

 Participants (N = 391; 62.5% women; 37.1% White) were individuals of varying body size (Mean BMI = 25.0, SD = 5.73, range 14.08-50.17 kg/m²). They completed the Antifat Attitude Questionnaire (AFAQ; Crandall, 1994), which assesses explicit weight bias across three subscale dimensions (i.e., Dislike; Fear of Fat; and Willpower), the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M; Pearl & Puhl, 2014), which assesses internalization of biased attitudes regarding weight, and an online weight-focused version of the Implicit Attitudes Test (IAT; Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998; Carpenter et al., 2019) to assess unconscious or implicit associations regarding weight. Participants also completed the Self-Classified Weight subscale of the Multidimensional Body–Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ; Cash, 2000), which assesses self-perception of weight status, from very underweight to very overweight. Participants responded yes (1) or no (0) to the following item: “Are you currently on a weight loss diet or have you recently changed your eating habits to improve the way you look?”

 Using the PROCESS macro, regression models evaluated main effects and interactions for the different weight bias measures and BMI on self-perceived weight, and current dieting, controlling for gender. We found differences across three forms of weight bias for self-perceived weight and dieting.  Participants with higher Fear of Fat and Willpower scores (explicit weight bias), and higher weight bias internalization, were most likely to be dieting. There were significant interactions between BMI and Fear of Fat for both dieting and self-perceived weight. Higher weight bias internalization was associated with higher self-perceived weight. There was a significant interaction between BMI and implicit weight bias; those with higher bias had more discrepancies between actual and perceived size.

Internalized, and some domains of explicit, weight bias relate to exaggerated self-perceptions of body size, and greater likelihoods of dieting.  Poorer accuracy of weight perception with higher implicit weight bias suggests those with unconscious negative attitudes about body size may feel they are “overweight” even in relatively small bodies. These results suggest potential risk for disordered eating.