The effects of causal beliefs and binge eating on the stigmatization of obesity

Objective: Weight disorders and overeating are increasingly labeled as addictions. It is important to identify the consequences of this label on the stigmatization of obesity. Method: Participants (N = 374) were assigned randomly to one of six conditions, in which they read a scenario about an obese woman either with or without binge eating, followed by an account of the cause of her obesity as psychological, a biological addiction, or ambiguous. Participants then completed questionnaires designed to assess stigma and prognostic beliefs. Results: Participants in the obesity with binge eating condition rated obese persons more negatively and as having a worse prognosis. The causal manipulation check revealed no difference between groups and there were no significant effects of this condition. Discussion: Behavior (binge eating) has important implications for understanding the stigmatization of obesity.