Dismantling Weight Stigma: A Group Intervention in a Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Program

The authors piloted a weight stigma psychotherapy group at an eating disonler partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP). This was an optional, transdiagnostic eating disorder group for patients with past/present weight stigma experiences related to being in large llodies. A total of 36 individuals participated in the weekly group from June 2018 to June 2019 during their PHP/IOP episode of care. We present the group's overarching framework of destigmatizing language and intersectional discussions of weight stigma. We also discuss clinical processes that unfolded during this group including simulated dialog from the group. Finally, we present relevant client quotes that provide preliminary support for future exploration in this area. as client subjective experiences of the croup were positive. Our preliminary pilot experience suggests that delivering a group of this nature in a PHP/IOP eating disonier treatment setting is feasible and that further work is needed to build upon this antiweight stigma framework as a critical piece of eating disorder treatment.