Indirect effects of weight discrimination on disordered eating via weight bias internalization among Black people in larger bodies.

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between weight discrimination, weight bias internalization, and disordered eating in a sample of Black adults in larger bodies. Specifically, indirect effects of weight discrimination on disordered eating through weight bias internalization were hypothesized. In this cross-sectional study, 454 Black participants living in the United States with BMIs of 25 kg/m2 or greater were recruited from Prolific. Study hypotheses and data analysis plan were preregistered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/px2n5/overview). As hypothesized, indirect effects of weight discrimination on disordered eating via weight bias internalization were found. The indirect effect was observed for global eating disorder symptoms and all five eating disorder subscales (restricted eating, shape and weight overvaluation, body dissatisfaction, bingeing, and purging). Findings expand previous research with predominantly White women samples to a community sample of Black adults in larger bodies, highlighting weight discrimination and weight bias internalization as important targets for eating disorder prevention and intervention in Black adults.