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ABSTRACT: Background
Discrimination promotes multisystem physiological dysregulation termed allostatic load, which predicts morbidity and mortality. It remains unclear whether weight-related discrimination influences allostatic load.Purpose
The aim of this study was to prospectively examine 10-year associations between weight discrimination, allostatic load, and its components among adults 25-75 years in the Midlife Development in the US Biomarker Substudy.Methods
Participants with information on weight discrimination were analyzed (n=986). At both timepoints, participants self-reported the frequency of perceived weight discrimination across nine scenarios as "never/rarely" (scored as 0), "sometimes" (1), or "often" (2). The two scores were averaged and then dichotomized as "experienced" versus "not experienced" discrimination. High allostatic load was defined as having ≥3 out of 7 dysregulated systems (cardiovascular, sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous systems, hypothalamic pituitary axis, inflammatory, lipid/metabolic, and glucose metabolism), which collectively included 24 biomarkers. Relative risks (RR) were estimated from multivariate models adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics, other forms of discrimination, and BMI.Results
Over 41% of the sample had obesity, and 6% reported weight discrimination at follow-up. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, individuals who experienced (versus did not experience) weight discrimination had twice the risk of high allostatic load (RR, 2.07; 95 % CI, 1.21; 3.55 for baseline discrimination; 2.16, 95 % CI, 1.39; 3.36 for long-term discrimination). Weight discrimination was associated with lipid/metabolic dysregulation (1.56; 95 % CI 1.02, 2.40), glucose metabolism (1.99; 95 % CI 1.34, 2.95), and inflammation (1.76; 95 % CI 1.22, 2.54), but no other systems.Conclusions
Perceived weight discrimination doubles the 10-year risk of high allostatic load. Eliminating weight stigma may reduce physiological dysregulation, improving obesity-related morbidity and mortality.
SUBMITTER: Vadiveloo M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5253095 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Vadiveloo Maya M Mattei Josiemer J
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine 20170201 1
<h4>Background</h4>Discrimination promotes multisystem physiological dysregulation termed allostatic load, which predicts morbidity and mortality. It remains unclear whether weight-related discrimination influences allostatic load.<h4>Purpose</h4>The aim of this study was to prospectively examine 10-year associations between weight discrimination, allostatic load, and its components among adults 25-75 years in the Midlife Development in the US Biomarker Substudy.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants with ...[more]