The Battle Against Self-Stigma: Can Psychological Interventions Help?

Internalized weight stigma, or IWS, is a big deal. It's like carrying around a negative self-image because of your weight, and it can lead to real problems with mental and physical health. To tackle this, we need to find ways to help people build resilience and cope effectively. That's where psychological interventions come in. We took a close look at what's out there and how well these interventions are working. We checked out their components, how easy they are to do, if people like them, and how well they reduce IWS and its nasty health effects. First, let's talk about what IWS actually is. It's like when someone feels bad about themselves because of their weight, not just because others are judging them. These feelings can stick and cause real harm. But how do psychological interventions aim to help? Some focus on building positive self-image, others on changing unhealthy thoughts, and some even involve support groups. Now, how feasible are these interventions? That means can they be done easily and practically. Some are just a few sessions, others are more long-term. They can be done one-on-one or in groups. Acceptability, the next factor we looked at, is all about whether people like and find value in these interventions. It's important because if people don't like it, they won't stick with it. Lastly, we checked preliminary efficacy, which is a fancy way of saying do they work at all. Good news: many interventions show promise in reducing IWS and improving health. But it's not all perfect. There are challenges too. Some interventions might not be practical for everyone, or they might not reach the people who need them most. That's why more research is needed to make these interventions even better and more accessible.