(PS5-82) Weight Stigma in Rural and Non-Rural Contexts: Gendered Experiences and Associations with Disordered Eating

Abstract Text: Both experienced and internalized weight stigma are associated with disordered eating and clinical eating disorders. Little is known about these phenomena in rural communities despite relevant risk factors, such as high rates of high-weight individuals, increased poverty and food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare. Given research that weight stigma and disordered eating behaviors differentially affect individuals of marginalized gender identities and literature that suggests rural women may be vulnerable to weight stigma and disordered eating, this study examined if experienced weight stigma (EWS), internalized weight stigma (IWS), and disordered eating behaviors differ on the basis of rurality and gender. The present study utilized a community sample of adults through Prolific (N = 269) to examine relationships between rurality and gender and EWS, IWS, and disordered eating. Participants were asked if they resided in a rural or non-rural (urban/suburban) area, and self-reported their gender identity. A 2x2 multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that experienced weight stigma, internalized weight stigma, and disordered eating differed by rurality and gender (Λ = .970, F(3, 532) = 2.729, p = .044, η²ₚ = .030). Follow-up ANOVAs indicated that the only significant effect was for experienced weight stigma (F(1, 534) = 5.055, p = .025, η²ₚ = .019). Pairwise comparisons further revealed a significant interaction effect wherein, there was a significant difference in experienced weight stigma between rural and non-rural women (M difference = 0.256, p = .049), such that rural women reported higher levels of experienced weight stigma compared to their non-rural counterparts. The findings align with, albeit limited, research suggesting that rural women may face heightened body-related scrutiny. Given the unique challenges rural women face, weight stigma reduction efforts may need to be tailored to address rural-specific sociocultural dynamics. The lack of differences in internalized weight stigma and disordered eating highlights the need for weight-inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches to care, particularly in rural settings where stigma may be more overt but internalization patterns remain complex.