Nutrition/Obesity
Does weight stigma contribute to the relationship between body weight and health?: A systematic review protocol Ellen McGarity-Shipley* Ellen McGarity-Shipley McGarity-Shipley McGarity-Shipley McGarity-Shipley McGarity-Shipley McGarity-Shipley Dalhousie University
Objective: This is a protocol for a systematic review which will synthesize studies that have explored the contribution of weight stigma in the relationship between body weight and health.
Introduction: High body weight is significantly stigmatized in North American society. Some studies suggest that weight stigma contributes to the relationship between body weight and health. However, there are currently no systematic reviews summarizing this literature.
Inclusion criteria: Quantitative peer-reviewed studies that have investigated weight stigma as either a mediator or a moderator of the relationship between body weight and health in adults (18 years of age or older) will be considered for inclusion. Health variables can include both physical and mental health measures. Weight stigma includes any weight stigma-related measure including weight bias internalization or weight self-stigma.
Methods: PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase, and PsycINFO will be searched (see sample search strategy for PubMed in Figure 1). Reference lists of relevant systematic reviews will be screened. Two researchers will independently screen studies at both the title and abstract screening stage and the full-text review stage. If there is disagreement, a third researcher from the team will be consulted. Standardized critical appraisal (Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool) and data extraction forms will be used. If two or more studies report on the same predictor, outcome, mediator/moderator variable and used the same statistical analysis, a meta-analysis will be performed with Jamovi (Sydney, Australia) to calculate pooled standardized beta coefficients and confidence intervals using a random-effects model. For studies that cannot be included in a meta-analysis due to heterogeneity of reported variables, a narrative synthesis will be completed.
Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42024623518
