Weight discrimination and body mass indexes as predictors of body esteem in members of the Bear subculture

Aim of the study The Bear subculture is a community of sexual minority men who are distinguished by their preference for muscular or large body build and pronounced body hair in men. Previous studies indicated that Bears experienced weight stigma within and outside the gay community. In this study we focused on body esteem in members of the Bear subculture and explored its associations with anthropological body mass indexes and experiences of weight discrimination. Subject or material and methods The study, which included questionnaires and anthropological measurements, involved 64 cisgender sexual minority men from the Polish Bear community. Analyses focused on predictors of body esteem measured with The Body-Esteem Scale, including body mass indexes (e.g., waist circumference) and self-reported exposure to weight discrimination. Results Every three out of four study participants reported exposure to weight stigma in the past. Greater exposure to weight discrimination predicted lower ratings of Physical Attractiveness, Upper Body Strength and Physical Condition. Body mass indexes were significantly and negatively related only to Physical Condition factor. Discussion Our study confirms previous observations of increased body mass indexes and exposure to weight stigma among Bears. Interestingly, weight discrimination but not body mass indexes consistently and negatively predicted self-assessed body esteem across its all dimensions. Conclusions Men from the Bear community constitute a population that may be particularly vulnerable to health inequalities due to increased body mass and weight stigma exposure. Health promotion interventions targeting this population should be tailored to Bears’ subcultural norms, support healthier lifestyles and effective coping with stigma as opposed to focus on weight loss.