Today’s blog post is brought to you by Jacklyn Stewart, medical student, and Helena Piccinini-Vallis, MD PhD CCFP FCFP, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.

Those living with obesity commonly face stigmatization and pressures to lose weight, which can lead to adverse psychological outcomes. Negative thoughts and feelings about oneself surrounding weight is called internalized weight bias.

Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to developing internalized weight bias, as there tends to be increased pressure placed on them to be at an “ideal” weight. Pregnancy is also a period of time where women inevitably gain weight, often permanently. Internalized weight bias may be associated with greater weight gain, decreased mental and physical health, decreased self-efficacy, disordered patterns of eating and greater perceived stress.

This study looks at the relationship between the amount of weight that is gained throughout pregnancy, and the level of negative thoughts and feelings pregnant women feel towards themselves. There is currently a lack of studies exploring internalized weight bias, particularly in pregnant women.

Participating in this study involves completing a brief 10-minute questionnaire. You are qualified to participate in this study if you are an English-speaking woman aged 18 years and older, pregnant with one child at 28 weeks or more.