Mediating role of body‐related shame and guilt in the relationship between weight perceptions and lifestyle behaviours

摘要

A substantial proportion of individuals with overweight or obesity perceive themselves as ‘too heavy’ relative to ‘about right’. Perceiving one's weight as ‘too heavy’ is associated with lower levels of physical activity and higher levels of sedentary behaviour. However, the mechanisms underpinning the associations between weight perception and lifestyle behaviours have not been identified. Based on theoretical tenets and empirical evidence, the self‐conscious emotions of shame and guilt may mediate these associations.