Association of Weight-Related Stigmas With Daily Pain Symptoms Among Individuals With Obesity

Background Individuals with obesity are disproportionately impacted by pain-related symptoms. Purpose This study evaluated experienced weight stigma and internalized weight bias (IWB) as predictors of pain symptoms in daily life among individuals with obesity. Methods Adults with obesity (n = 39; 51% female, 67% White, 43.8 +/- 11.6 years old, BMI = 36.8 +/- 6.7 kg/m(2)) completed a baseline assessment (demographics, experienced weight stigma, IWB) and a 14-day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) period involving five daily prompts of pain/aches/joint pain, muscle soreness, experienced weight stigma, and IWB. Generalized linear models were used to assess experienced weight stigma and IWB at baseline as prospective predictors of EMA pain/soreness symptoms. Multi-level models were used to test the association of momentary weight stigma experiences and IWB with pain/soreness at the same and subsequent EMA prompts. Results IWB at baseline, but not experienced weight stigma, was associated with more frequent pain symptoms (p < .05) and muscle soreness (p < .01) during EMA. Momentary IWB (but not experienced stigma) was associated with more pain/aches/joint pain and muscle soreness at the same and subsequent prompt. Conclusions Internalized (but not experienced) weight bias was prospectively associated with pain symptoms in daily life among individuals with obesity. Results are consistent with growing evidence that weight-related stigmas represent psychosocial factors that contribute to weight-related morbidity typically attributed to body size.