Abstract
Background
Negative emotional eating (NEE) refers to overeating in response to negative emotional states and is a prevalent behavior in individuals with eating disorders and/or obesity. Both eating disorders and obesity are highly stigmatized conditions. However, recent research suggests that the stigmatization of eating disorders and obesity may depend on and interact with the presence of specific eating behaviors. The stigma surrounding NEE is unexplored. Therefore, the present experimental vignette study examined the stigma and help-seeking attitudes associated with NEE the interaction between NEE stigma and weight stigma.
Methods
Twelve vignettes describing a women’s eating behaviors and weight status (4 eating conditions: no disordered eating, NEE, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder × 3 weight status: no mention of weight, normal-weight, obese) were randomly assigned to be viewed by 558 participants (mean age = 29.12 [10.66] years; 70.0% women) with each participant viewing one vignette, i.e., a between-subject design. They then completed measures of stigma and help-seeking intentions.
Results
The results showed that the character with NEE was ascribed more negative personality characteristics, faced more adverse affective reactions, and elicited greater social distancing desires than the character without disordered eating. Additionally, NEE stigma did not interact with weight stigma; NEE was stigmatized regardless of weight status. Furthermore, NEE was associated with greater volitional stigma than eating disorders—NEE was perceived as more trivial and associated with lower help-seeking intentions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, NEE is a stigmatized but trivialized behavior. Future public health initiatives shall aim to reduce the stigma surrounding NEE and improve help-seeking intentions regarding NEE.