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Journal Article 1: Hand, W., Robinson, J., Stewart, M., Zhang, L., & Hand, S. (2017). The identity threat of weight stigma in adolescents. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 39, 991–1007.

Abstract: Obesity remains a serious public health issue in adolescents, who may be subjected to weight stigma leading to increased stress and poor health outcomes. Stigma can be detrimental to adolescents during self-identity formation. The purpose of this study was to examine weight stigma in adolescents in light of the Identity Threat Model of Stigma. A cross-sectional correlational design was used to examine the relationships among the variables of weight stigma, psychosocial stress, coping styles, disordered eating, and physical inactivity. Regression modeling and path analysis were used to analyze the data. Over 90% of the sample had scores indicating weight stigma or anti-fat bias. Avoidant coping style and psychosocial stress predicted disordered eating. The strongest path in the model was from avoidant coping to disordered eating. The Identity Threat Model of Stigma partially explained adolescents’ weight stigma. Nursing practice implications are discussed.

Journal Article 2: Jennings, K., Kelly-Weeder, S., & Wolfe, B. (2015). Binge eating among racial minority groups in the United States. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 21, 117–125.

Abstract: Binge eating (BE) is a disordered eating behavior that has been linked to the development of eating disorders and obesity, with the latter being a condition with higher prevalence rates among some racial minority groups. Although researchers have begun to examine characteristics of BE among racial minority groups, it is unclear how these differ from White populations. OBJECTIVE: This article provides an integrative review of published literature within the past decade reporting on the characteristics of BE in minority compared with White racial groups. METHOD: Health care computerized databases were searched using key terms. RESULTS: Eighteen research studies met the inclusion criteria. More than half of the studies reviewed reported racial differences in some aspect of BE; however, heterogeneity in the definition and measurement of BE limits the ability to compare findings across studies. CONCLUSIONS: BE is reported across racial groups. To determine whether meaningful differences in BE exist by race, further studies using the same conceptual and operational definitions of BE are needed.