Perceived weight stigma among adults diagnosed with schizophrenia in China: a cross-sectional study

Background

Perceived weight stigma is increasingly recognised as an important psychosocial stressor associated with adverse psychological well-being, impaired healthcare engagement, and poorer treatment outcomes. Adults diagnosed with schizophrenia may be especially vulnerable because of antipsychotic-related weight gain and the intersection of weight stigma and mental illness stigma. However, evidence regarding perceived weight stigma in this population remains scarce, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.