Weight-based Victimization and its Relation to Depression among a group of Adult Obese Egyptian Females

Background: During the last decades, the prevalence of weight stigmatization has substantially increased which in turn is associated with poorer out comes as depression.
Aim: the aim of this study was to evaluate the sociodemographic and anthropometric factors affecting weight-based victimization among adult obese Egyptian Females and identifying the underlying relation between obesity, weight-based victimization and depression.

Cases and methods: an online cross-sectional study was conducted by random sampling technique, upon 462 obese adult females in the period from March 2022 to June 2022. Females were drawn through posts on social network (Facebook®), Both Weight self-stigma questionnaire (WSSQ) and Depression scale which is part of Depression Anxiety Scale (DAS) were administered online through Google forms after signing an electronic consent form to participate and share data.

Results: The multiple logistic regression analysis of different risk factors affecting WSSQ was young age group, student group, parents not being overweight, single group and high education. It was found that there was a significant relation between depression scale and WSSQ scale.
Conclusion: Research concluded that there was strong empirical evidence that experiencing weight stigma was associated with greater psychosocial impairment and increased risk of depression with increasing body mass index (BMI, Kg/m2).