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Current Obesity Reports
Published in: Current Obesity Reports 3/2020

01-09-2020 | Obesity | Psychological Issues (V Drapeau and V Ivezaj, Section Editors)

Review of the Experience of Weight-Based Stigmatization in Romantic Relationships

Authors: Marilou Côté, Catherine Bégin

Published in: Current Obesity Reports | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This narrative review summarizes literature on the stigma and prejudices experienced by individuals based on their weight in the context of romantic relationships.

Recent Findings

Individuals presenting with overweight or obesity, particularly women, are disadvantaged in the formation of romantic relationships compared with their normal-weight counterparts. They are also more prone to experience weight-based stigmatization towards their couple (from others), as well as among their couple (from their romantic partner). Currently available studies showed that weight-based stigmatization by a romantic partner was found to be associated with personal and interpersonal correlates, such as body dissatisfaction, relationship and sexual dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors.

Summary

Scientific literature on weight-based stigmatization among romantic relationships is still scarce. Prospective researches are clearly needed to identify consequences of this specific type of stigmatization on individuals’ personal and interpersonal well-being. The use of dyadic designs could help to deepen our understanding as it would take into account the interdependence of both partners.
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Metadata
Title
Review of the Experience of Weight-Based Stigmatization in Romantic Relationships
Authors
Marilou Côté
Catherine Bégin
Publication date
01-09-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Keywords
Obesity
Obesity
Published in
Current Obesity Reports / Issue 3/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2162-4968
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-020-00383-0

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