The Role of Body Appreciation, Weight Bias Internalization, and Disordered Eating Behaviors among Pre-Surgical Bariatric Patients

Abstract Background Body appreciation and internalized weight bias have consistently been associated with eating behaviors. However, research has yet to examine the role of these variables among pre-surgical bariatric patients. Objectives The present study sought to assess the relationships between body appreciation and weight bias internalization, binge eating, disinhibited eating, and symptoms of depression and anxiety among a sample of pre-surgical bariatric patients. The study also sought to examine the extent to which body appreciation and weight bias internalization account for unique variance in disordered eating even when controlling for depression and anxiety. Setting Academic medical center in the United States. Methods Data were collected on body appreciation, weight bias internalization, eating behaviors, depression, and anxiety as part of a standard pre-surgical psychological evaluation for bariatric surgery (N = 319). Pearson correlations were used to assess relationships between all study variables. Multiple regressions were conducted to assess the role of body appreciation and weight bias internalization on disordered eating. Results Significant associations were found between low levels of body appreciation and high levels of weight bias internalization, disordered eating, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results indicated that body appreciation and weight bias internalization each significantly accounted for unique variance in symptoms of binge eating and disinhibited eating. Depressive symptoms were also statistically significant in all analyses. Conclusions Findings indicate the importance of conducting future positive body image research, as well as continuing to examine weight-related constructs, such as internalized weight bias, among bariatric surgery patients.