In a new study from the University of Connecticut, researchers found people with type 2 diabetes experience stigma because of both their diabetes and their weight.
Moreover, these stigmatizing experiences contribute to unhealthy eating behaviors, lower physical activity, and poorer health.
The team also found people with type 2 diabetes who experience weight stigma in health care or differential treatment from others because of their diabetes are more likely to turn to food as a coping strategy and binge-eat, compared to those who have not experienced these forms of stigma.
Additionally, when people with type 2 diabetes internalize the negative judgments they receive because of their diabetes and/or weight, they are more likely to binge-eat, engage in less physical activity, and report worse overall health.
In the study, the team used an online, healthcare-focused research panel of 1,227 adults with type 2 diabetes.
Survey questions asked respondents about their experiences of diabetes stigma and weight stigma, as well as their eating behaviors, levels of physical activity, and self-rated health.
The team found being treated differently by others because of one’s diabetes and engaging in self-stigma were both associated with eating as a coping strategy and binge-eating.
53% of respondents reported they had been stigmatized for their weight, and 44% had experienced weight stigma from a healthcare provider on more than one occasion.
Individuals who felt judged about their weight by doctors reported more frequent binge eating and were more likely to eat as a coping strategy in response to stress or negative emotions.
Internalized stigma was linked to eating as a coping strategy, binge eating, lower physical activity, and worse perceived health.
These findings are among the first to highlight the important relationship between diabetes stigma and health behaviors.
In addition, the findings are particularly important for healthcare providers who play a pivotal role in diabetes management.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about this vitamin may help lower risk of type 2 diabetes and findings of this simple habit could help reduce type 2 diabetes symptoms.
For more information about diabetes and your health, please see recent studies about the cause of early-stage type 2 diabetes and results showing that this sleep problem is a new risk factor of type 2 diabetes.
The study is published in Clinical Diabetes. One author of the study is Rebecca Puhl.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
