The Effect of a Food Addiction Explanatory Model of Eating Behaviours on Weight-Based Stigma: An Experimental Investigation

Weight stigmatization and discrimination are pervasive issues that have numerous adverse consequences for those with excess weight. The current study replicated and extended a study examining the effect of the food addiction model on weight-based stigma and weight controllability beliefs. Undergraduate students (N = 757) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions where they read a newspaper article accompanied by a photo of a female target who was either obese or normal-weight, and an explanation for her eating behaviours as either due to food addiction or poor lifestyle choices. Stigma towards the target, obesity in general, and self were assessed. Results were mixed, such that the target with obesity elicited greater weight stigma, a food addiction explanation increased perceptions of psychopathology towards the target, and an explanation about poor lifestyle choices elicited judgment towards the target. Neither explanation about eating behaviours elicited stigma on any other measures.