Hackett, R.A. orcid.org/0000-0002-5428-2950, Jackson, S.E. orcid.org/0000-0001-5658-6168, Corker, E. et al. (1 more author) (2023) The role of stress and health behaviour in linking weight discrimination and health: a secondary data analysis in England. BMJ Open, 13 (9). e072043. ISSN 2044-6055
Abstract
Objective: To examine the role of stress and health-risk behaviours in relationships between weight discrimination and health and well-being.
Design: Secondary data analysis of an observational cohort study.
Setting: The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
Participants: Data were from 4341 adults (≥50 years) with overweight/obesity.
Primary outcome measures: We tested associations between perceived weight discrimination at baseline (2010/2011) and self-rated health, limiting long-standing illness, depressive symptoms, quality of life and life satisfaction over 4-year follow-up (2010/2011; 2014/2015). Potential mediation by stress exposure (hair cortisol) and health-risk behaviours (smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption) was assessed.
Results: Cross-sectionally, perceived weight discrimination was associated with higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health (OR=2.05 (95% CI 1.49 to 2.82)), limiting long-standing illness (OR=1.76 (95% CI 1.29 to 2.41)) and depressive symptoms (OR=2.01 (95% CI 1.41 to 2.85)) and lower quality of life (B=−5.82 (95% CI −7.01 to −4.62)) and life satisfaction (B=−2.36 (95% CI −3.25 to −1.47)). Prospectively, weight discrimination was associated with higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health (OR=1.63 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.40)) and depressive symptoms (OR=2.37 (95% CI 1.57 to 3.60)) adjusting for baseline status. Those who reported discrimination had higher hair cortisol concentrations (B=0.14 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.25)) and higher odds of physical inactivity (OR=1.90 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.05)). These variables did not significantly mediate associations between discrimination and health outcomes.
Conclusions: Weight discrimination is associated with poor health and well-being. While this discrimination is associated with stress exposure and physical inactivity, these variables explain little of the association between discrimination and poorer outcomes.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. |
Keywords: | Depression & mood disorders; EPIDEMIOLOGY; PUBLIC HEALTH; Adult; Humans; Secondary Data Analysis; Hydrocortisone; Longitudinal Studies; Quality of Life; Health Behavior; England |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 27 Sep 2023 15:11 |
Last Modified: | 27 Sep 2023 15:11 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | BMJ |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072043 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:203650 |