Weight stigma, policy initiatives, and harnessing social media to elevate activism

Body Image ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 131-137
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Puhl
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Weight Stigma ◽  
Policy Initiatives

scholarly journals Psychological distress and internet-related behaviors between schoolchildren with and without overweight during the COVID-19 outbreak

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Ying Chen ◽  
I-Hua Chen ◽  
Kerry O’Brien ◽  
Janet D Latner ◽  
Chung-Ying Lin
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Weight Stigma ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Perceived Weight ◽  
Problematic Social Media Use

Abstract Objective: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and its resulting social policy changes, may result in psychological distress among schoolchildren with overweight. This study thus aimed to (1) compare psychological distress (including fear of COVID-19 infection, stress, anxiety, and depression), perceived weight stigma, and problematic internet-related behaviors between schoolchildren with and without overweight; (2) assess whether perceived weight stigma and problematic internet-related behaviors explained psychological distress.Methods: Schoolchildren (n=1 357; mean age=10.7 years) with overweight (n=236) and without overweight (n=1 121) completed an online survey assessing their fear of COVID-19 infection, stress, anxiety, depression, perceived weight stigma, problematic smartphone application use, problematic social media use, and problematic gaming.Results: Schoolchildren with overweight had significantly higher levels of COVID-19 infection fear, stress, depression, perceived weight stigma, and problematic social media use than those without overweight. Regression models showed that perceived weight stigma and problematic internet-related behaviors were significant predictors of psychological distress among schoolchildren with overweight.Conclusion: Strategies to manage perceived weight stigma and problematic internet-related behaviors may have a positive influence on mental health among schoolchildren with overweight under health-threatening circumstances, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Policy Initiatives to Promote Positive Embodiment and Reduce Weight Stigma

2019 ◽  
pp. 409-422
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Puhl ◽  
Mary S. Himmelstein
Keyword(s):  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Weight Stigma ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
The World ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
Equitable Treatment

Weight-based stigma and discrimination exist toward individuals whose body size deviates from stringent societal ideals of thinness. Growing concerns about the prevalence and damaging consequences of weight-based bullying, stigma, and discrimination have led to increasing calls for policy measures to protect people from weight-based prejudice on a broader scale. This chapter reviews policy and legal efforts that have been proposed or implemented to facilitate positive embodiment for youth and adults, including evidence on public attitudes about policies and laws that aim to reduce weight-based bullying and discrimination. In addition, policy initiatives and research evidence in North America, Europe, and other parts of the world are highlighted, including the strengths and limitations of these efforts. Directions for future policy research and advocacy efforts are identified that can improve on existing legal initiatives to promote equitable treatment of individuals of diverse body sizes.

scholarly journals Problematic Use of Internet-Related Activities and Perceived Weight Stigma in Schoolchildren: A Longitudinal Study Across Different Epidemic Periods of COVID-19 in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier C. C. Fung ◽  
Andrew M. H. Siu ◽  
Marc N. Potenza ◽  
Kerry S. O'Brien ◽  
Janet D. Latner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Weight Stigma ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
School Suspension ◽  
Perceived Weight ◽  
Use Of Internet

Background: Social distancing and school suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) may have a negative impact on children's behavior and well-being. Problematic smartphone use (PSU), problematic social media use (PSMU) and perceived weight stigma (PWS) are particularly important issues for children, yet we have a poor understanding of how these may have been affected by lockdowns and physical isolation resulting from COVID-19. This research aimed to understand how these psychosocial and behavioral variables may be associated with psychological distress, and how these associations may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A total of 489 children completed a three-wave longitudinal study from January 2020 to June 2020. The first wave was conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak. The second wave was conducted during the outbreak. The third wave was conducted during post-COVID-19 lockdown. Questionnaires measured psychological distress, PSU, PSMU, and PWS.Results: PSU, PSMU, PWS and psychological distress were all significantly associated with each other. PSU was significantly higher during outbreak. PWS was significantly higher before outbreak. We found an increased association between PSMU and PWS across three waves in all three models. The association between PSU and depression/anxiety decreased across three waves; however, association between PSMU and depression/anxiety increased across three waves.Conclusions: COVID-19 initiated school suspension and associated lockdowns appear to have exacerbated PSU and depression among children. However, PWS was reduced during this period. Children should use smartphones and social media safely and cautiously, and be aware of the potential exposure to weight stigmatization.

scholarly journals Twitter and India's 2019 Lok Sabha Election

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-182
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Jin
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mutual Information ◽  
Campaign Strategies ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Political Events ◽  
The World ◽  
Democratic Elections ◽  
Over Time

India’s 2019 Lok Sabha Election was one of the largest democratic elections in the world. During this election, candidates used social media to reach out to voters and advertise their policy initiatives. In this paper, I examine how India’s major parties differ in their campaign strategies on Twitter with respect to their general tweeting patterns, policy prioritizations, and messages to underrepresented voters. To conduct this research, I adopt three methods— LASSO Logistic, Mutual Information, and Keywords Subsetting—to uncover policy initiatives in tweets. My findings suggest that India’s major parties and their leaders differ in their tweeting frequency, choice of language, and the number of times they mention one another. They not only prioritize different sets of policies in their tweets, but also shift their priorities over time in response to major political events. Finally, parties and politicians also differ in the messages they deliver to underrepresented voters. The data collected from candidate and party tweets highlights a clear set of policy initiatives addressing traditionally marginalized voters.

Weight stigma is associated with provider-patient relationship factors and adherence for individuals with hypothyroidism

2020 ◽  
pp. 135910532096354
Author(s):  
Morgan Snyder ◽  
Kelly Haskard-Zolnierek ◽  
Krista Howard ◽  
Yueqin Hu
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Weight Stigma ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Medical Visits ◽  
Relationship Factors ◽  
Stigma Experiences

The goal of this study was to examine weight stigma experiences during medical visits as related to provider-patient relationship factors and adherence among individuals with hypothyroidism. A total of 362 participants recruited via social media participated in an online survey. Regression and mediation analyses indicated that weight stigma was negatively associated with adherence; this relationship was mediated by decreased trust in provider, less perceived provider empathy, and lower provider-patient depth-of-relationship. Structural equation modeling with BMI controlled revealed that weight stigma is associated with worsened provider-patient relationship and adherence. Findings suggest the importance of eliminating weight stigma experiences for patients.

scholarly journals Weight Stigma and Social Media: Evidence and Public Health Solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia Clark ◽  
Matthew M. Lee ◽  
Muksha Luxmi Jingree ◽  
Erin O'Dwyer ◽  
Yiyang Yue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Weight Bias ◽  
Weight Stigma ◽  
Weight Discrimination ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Health At Every Size ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Weight stigma is a pressing issue that affects individuals across the weight distribution. The role of social media in both alleviating and exacerbating weight bias has received growing attention. On one hand, biased algorithms on social media platforms may filter out posts from individuals in stigmatized groups and concentrate exposure to content that perpetuates problematic norms about weight. Individuals may also be more likely to engage in attacks due to increased anonymity and lack of substantive consequences online. The critical influence of social media in shaping beliefs may also lead to the internalization of weight stigma. However, social media could also be used as a positive agent of change. Movements such as Body Positivity, the Fatosphere, and Health at Every Size have helped counter negative stereotypes and provide more inclusive spaces. To support these efforts, governments should continue to explore legislative solutions to enact anti-weight discrimination policies, and platforms should invest in diverse content moderation teams with dedicated weight bias training while interrogating bias in existing algorithms. Public health practitioners and clinicians should leverage social media as a tool in weight management interventions and increase awareness of stigmatizing online content among their patients. Finally, researchers must explore how experiences of stigma differ across in-person and virtual settings and critically evaluate existing research methodologies and terminology. Addressing weight stigma on social media will take a concerted effort across an expansive set of stakeholders, but the benefits to population health are consequential and well-worth our collective attention.

Where Social Media Meets AAC

ASHA Leader ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Social Media

Making Twitter Work For You

ASHA Leader ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists

As professionals who recognize and value the power and important of communications, audiologists and speech-language pathologists are perfectly positioned to leverage social media for public relations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document