Weight stigmatization and discrimination are pervasive issues that have numerous adverse consequences for those with excess weight. It has been proposed that some individuals may be addicted to hyperpalatable processed foods, resulting in weight promoting eating behaviours. The current study replicated and extended a study examining the effect of a food addiction explanation for eating behaviours on weight-based stigma and weight-controllability beliefs. Undergraduate students (N = 757) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions where they read a newspaper article accompanied by a photo of a woman 1) who was either of a higher body mass index (BMI) or a lower BMI, and 2) that attributed her eating behaviours to either food addiction or poor dietary and lifestyle choices. Stigma towards the woman and individuals with a higher BMI in general were assessed. Results indicated that the woman with a higher BMI elicited greater weight stigma. Attributing weight to food addiction increased perceptions of psychopathology towards the woman, whereas attributing weight to poor dietary and lifestyle choices elicited judgment towards the woman. Neither explanation about eating behaviours elicited stigma towards individuals with a higher BMI in general. Findings suggest that a food addiction explanation alone may not be sufficient to reduce weight stigma.

体重的污名化和歧视是普遍存在的问题，对于那些体重过重的人会产生许多不利的后果。已经提出，某些人可能沉迷于高口味的加工食品，从而导致体重增加进食行为。当前的研究重复并扩展了一项研究，该研究研究了饮食成瘾对饮食行为的解释对基于体重的耻辱和体重可控性信念的影响。本科生（N = 757）被随机分配到以下四种情况之一：阅读报纸上的照片并附有妇女的照片； 1）体重指数（BMI）较高或BMI较低的女性； 2）归因于她的饮食食物成瘾或饮食和生活方式选择不当的行为。对妇女和一般BMI较高的个人的污名进行了评估。结果表明，BMI较高的女性引起更大的体重柱头。将体重归因于食物成瘾增加了对该妇女的心理病理学认识，而将体重归因于不良的饮食和生活方式选择引起了对该妇女的判断。关于饮食行为的两种解释都没有引起一般BMI较高的人的污名。