Body Appreciation and Discontinuing Contraceptive Use Due to Concern About Weight Gain: A Brief Report

Abstract

Objective: This study explored the relationship between body appreciation and discontinuing contraception due to concern about weight gain.

Methods: A racially and ethnically diverse sample of women, from the United States, (n = 494) was recruited online. Binomial logistic regression was used for analysis.

Results: Participants with higher body appreciation were less likely to stop taking birth control due to concern about weight gain (OR = 0.56, p = .002). These results suggest body appreciation may be a defense against concern about weight gain associated with contraceptive use.

Conclusions: Interventions aimed at increasing women’s body appreciation, body positivity, as well as decreasing weight stigma could improve contraception use.

Keywords:

• Body appreciation
• contraception
• weight
• women

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Margaret W. Mangel Faculty Research Catalyst Fund for supporting this research through the University of Missouri.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded through the Margaret W. Mangel Faculty Research Catalyst Fund through the University of Missouri.