Association of Weight-Related Stigmas With Daily Pain Symptoms Among Individuals With Obesity.

This study investigated the relationship between experienced weight stigma, internalized weight bias (IWB), and pain symptoms in daily life among adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) over 14 days with 39 participants, results showed that higher baseline and momentary IWB—but not experienced weight stigma—were significantly associated with increased reports of physical pain, aches, joint pain, and muscle soreness. These associations persisted after controlling for BMI and other covariates, suggesting that internalized negative attitudes about weight may contribute to pain independently of body size. The study highlights IWB as a psychosocial factor influencing pain among individuals with obesity, supporting biopsychosocial models of pain, though findings are limited by the small, predominantly White sample and reliance on self-reported measures.