The Use of Stigmatizing Messaging in Anti-Obesity Communications Campaigns: Quantification of Obesity Stigmatization
Monique Mitchell Turner, Lindsay Ford, Victoria Somerville, Donna Javellana, Kelsey R. Day, Maria Knight Lapinski
Abstract
Weight stigma may contribute to stress, binge eating, and suicidal ideation. Public health campaigns may perpetuate weight stigma; however, the prevalence of stigmatizing tactics in campaign messages is unknown. This study quantified the extent to which obesity-prevention campaigns in the U.S. include stigmatizing elements in print materials. A content analysis of all print advertisements ( N = 182 posters) derived from 25 obesity-prevention campaigns shows 13.2% included stigmatizing elements. These stigmatizing advertisements were found in almost half (44%) of the 25 obesity-prevention campaigns analyzed. Further research is needed to establish the prevalence of stigmatizing messaging across mediums and message effects.