Evaluating the Relationship Between Weight Stigma and Body Weight in a Short Term Weight Gain Prevention Program for Active Duty Military Service Members
Abstract
Rates of obesity and overweight in the United States are on the rise, which is reflected in the active duty (AD) military population. Americans struggle to meet weight and fitness standards required of AD service members for entry into the armed forces. While service members meet entry standards, many struggle with weight management following basic training. Although obesity is associated with negative health consequences, there has been increasing focus on weight stigma or anti-fat bias as a public health problem. Despite belief that anti-fat bias may result in increased health behaviors, it is commonly associated with avoidance behaviors, mood disturbance, body dissatisfaction and unhealthy changes in both eating behaviors and physical activity, which perpetuates anti-fat bias and discrimination. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine whether a six-week weight gain prevention program could mitigate weight gain among soldiers at risk for obesity. In addition, the relationship between weight stigma and program outcomes were examined. 121 soldiers (81 men; 40 women) participated in the study and were assigned to either Fit4Duty or a health education control program. Fit4Duty is a six-week weight gain prevention program adapted from a civilian program for the purposes of this study. At one year follow up, participants in the Fit4Duty prevention program, maintained body weight while those in the health education control evidenced weight gain. Participants in the Fit4Duty prevention program were more adherent than those in the health education control group, and men, overall, were more adherent than women. 26.4 of this active duty, help seeking population reported experiencing weight stigma, which was also associated with depressive symptoms, weight bias internalization, BMI and both depressive and anxious emotional eating.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 22, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1128254
Entities
People
- Kendra L. Ekundayo
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences