Professional Experience
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Essex, 2021–present
SSHRC Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, Canada, 2019–2021 SOBR Lab
ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK, 2018–2019
Education
PhD Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK , 2018
MSc Weight Management, University of Chester, UK, 2012
PG Dip Science Communication, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK, 2005
BSc Adv Hons Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2002
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journals
Alleva JM, Karos K, Meadows A, Walden MI, Stutterheim S, Lisandrello F, Atkinson M. (2021). What can her body do? Appreciating another person’s body functionality to reduce weight stigma. PLOS One. Link to paper [Open access]
Osa M, Siegel JA, Meadows A, Elbe C, Calogero RM (2021). Stigmatizing effects of weight status on lay perceptions of eating disorder-related distress. Eating Disorders. Online first. Link to paper
Meadows A, Daníelsdóttir S, Mercedes M, Goldberg DS (2020). Fighting for a (wide enough) seat at the table: Weight stigma in law and policy. Fat Studies. Link to paper
Meadows A, Higgs S (2020). A bifactor analysis of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale: What are we really measuring? Body Image. Link to paper
Potter L, Meadows A, Smyth J (2020). Experiences of weight stigma in everyday life: An ecological momentary assessment study. Journal of Health Psychology. Link to paper
Meadows A, Higgs S (2020). Internalized weight stigma and the progression of food addiction over time. Body Image. Link to paper
Mclaughlin et al (2020). Worldwide surveillance of self-reported sitting time: A scoping review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Link to paper
Elbe C, Meadows A, Calogero R (2020). Effects of confronting weight stigma on anti-fat attitudes, weight stigma resistance, and support for stigma-reduction strategies. Western University Psychology Journal. Link to paper
Meadows A (2019). Weight stigma and physical health: An unconsidered ‘obesity’ cost. Canadian Journal of Public Health. Link to paper
Meadows A, Higgs S (2019). The multifaceted nature of weight-related self-stigma: Validation of the Two-Factor Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-2F). Frontiers in Psychology. Link to paper [open access]
Bombak AE, Meadows A, Billette J (2019). Fat acceptance 101: Midwestern American women’s perspective on cultural body acceptance. Health Sociology Review. Link to paper
Meadows A, Higgs S (2019). Internalised weight stigma moderates the impact of a stigmatising prime on eating in the absence of hunger in higher- but not lower-weight individuals. Frontiers in Psychology. Link to paper [open access]
Meadows A, Bombak AE (2018). Yes, we can (No, you can’t): Weight stigma, self-efficacy, and the development of active-fat identity. Fat Studies. Link to paper
Calogero RM, Tylka TL, Mensinger JL, Meadows A, Daníelsdóttir S (2018). Recognizing fat as a fundamental right: A weight-inclusive approach to size acceptance and healing from sizeism. Women & Therapy. Link to paper
Meadows A, Higgs S, Burke SE, Dovidio JF, Puhl RM, van Ryn M, Phelan SM. Social dominance orientation, dispositional empathy, and need for cognitive closure moderate the impact of empathy-skills training, but not patient contact, on medical students’ negative attitudes toward higher-weight patients. Frontiers in Psychology. Link to paper [open access]
Meadows A, Nolan LJ, Higgs S (2017). Self-perceived food addiction: Prevalence, predictors, and prognosis. Appetite, 114, 282–298. Link to paper
Mensinger J, Meadows A (2017). Internalized weight stigma mediates and moderates physical activity outcomes during a healthy living program for women with high body mass index. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 30: 64-72. Link to paper
Meadows A, Daníelsdóttir S, Calogero R, O’Reilly C (2017). Why fat suits do not advance the scientific study of weight stigma. Obesity, 25: 275. Link to paper.
Meadows A, Daníelsdóttir S (2016). What’s in a word? On weight stigma and terminology. Frontiers in Psychology, Link to paper [open access]
Meadows A, Higgs S (2014). Impact of experienced and internalised weight stigma on eating behaviour and psychological outcomes. Appetite, 83(1): 345.
Meadows A, Higgs S (2013). I think, therefore I am? Characteristics of a non-clinical population of self-perceived food addicts. Appetite, 71(1): 482.
Book Chapters
Meadows A. (2017) Studies on weight stigma and body image in higher-weight individuals. In Body Image, Eating, and Weight, M Cuzzolaro, S Fassino (eds). Cham: Springer. Link to chapter
Meadows A. (2014) Fat and fit: possible, probable, protective? In R Chastain (ed) The politics of size: perspectives from the Fat-Acceptance Movement. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-Clio. Link to chapter
Presentations
Panel discussions
June 2020: Mancoll S, Saunders J, Meadows A, Smith J, Goldberg D. ;Weight discrimination: Applying research to effect policy change’, Annual Conference of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Denver, USA
Oral Presentations
(first author only)
June 2019: ‘Developing weight stigma resistance: Fat studies and emerging fat activism identity in a weight-diverse sample’, 7th Annual International Weight Stigma Conference, London, Ontario, Canada
June 2019: ‘Resisting weight stigma: Development and validation of a novel measure’, Annual Conference of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, San Diego, USA. Link.
August 2018: ‘A social identity model of weight stigma resistance and psychological wellbeing in higher-weight individuals’, 32nd Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Galway, Ireland
June 2018: ‘Is there a better way to measure internalised weight stigma: Confirmatory factor analysis of the 19-item Weight Bias Internalization Scale’, 6th Annual International Weight Stigma Conference, Leeds, UK. Link
April 2016: ‘Preaching to the converted: Can we really teach empathy?’ 4th International Weight Stigma Conference, Vancouver, Canada. Link
September 2015: ‘Anti-fat attitudes: when do we internalise them and when do we fight back? A model of individual response to societal weight stigma among fat individuals’, 3rd International Weight Stigma Conference, Reykjavik, Iceland. Link
November 2014: Sticks and stones: The association between weight discrimination and physical and mental wellbeing, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, USA
June 2013: ‘I think therefore I am? Characteristics of a non-clinical population of self-perceived food addicts’, 4th Conference of the Association for Size Diversity and Health, Chicago, USA
Invited Talks
September 2019: ‘Just too sensitive? Everyday indignities: Microaggressions in daily life.’ European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK
December 2018: ‘Is the War on Obesity making us sick?’ Seminar at Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
September 2015: ‘Of course weight stigma is bad. But, Obesity! Critical weight science for health care professionals and policy advisors’, master class presented at 3rd International Weight Stigma Conference, Reykjavik, Iceland. Link
May 2013: ‘Health At Every Size®: why and why not’, master class presented at EU-funded HAES® workshop, Berlin, Germany
November 2012: ‘Why your back fat and bingo wings aren’t going to kill you anytime soon – debunking the obesity science dogma’, HAES UK Conference, SOAS, London, UK
September 2012: ‘OMGDeathFat!!! Or not. Debunking obesity ‘science’ and what everyone knows about weight and health’, HAES® Master Class, Web-based conference
May 2012: ‘Dieting doesn’t work, now what? Ethics in the new public health’, seminar presented at Institute of Health and Community, University of Plymouth, UK
Posters
(first author only)
October 2018: ‘Yes, we can (No, you can’t): Weight stigma, exercise self-efficacy, and active identity development in higher-weight individuals’, 7th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress, London, UK
August 2018: ‘Weight stigma, exercise self-efficacy, and active identity development in higher-weight individuals: A conceptual model’, 32nd Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Galway, Ireland
January 2016: Decrements in psychological wellbeing in response to societal weight stigma are offset by group identification and stigma resistance, but only when group permeability beliefs are low, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego, USA
June 2014: ‘Sticks and stones: The association between weight discrimination and mental and physical well-being’, 2nd International Weight Stigma Conference, Canterbury, UK
April 2013: ‘I think therefore I am? Characteristics of a non-clinical population of self-perceived food addicts’, British Feeding and Drinking Group Conference, Loughborough, UK
Public Engagement
I write on ‘obesity science’ and weight stigma issues for a general audience, in both print formats and on social media, including for Huffington Post UK and The Conversation. I have nearly 2000 followers on Facebook and over 1000 on Twitter. I write a regular newsletter, with over 500 subscribers, in which I provide information and explanation of the most recent scientific literature pertaining to weight and health. I have also acted as a research consultant on issues of weight stigma, and weight and health for a number of authors and TV production companies to provide background and ensure accurate and non-stigmatising representation of these issues in content aimed at the general public.
Live events
17/1/2020 “As You Are: Facts, science, and things to tell your friends/family/doctor when they give you a hard time,” As You Are online summit
30/5/2019 Speaker, Body Positivity Café: Through the Lens of Intersectionality, Social Science in the City, University of the West of England, UK
2/2/2019 Panelist, “Fattitude” UK Première, London, UK
Media
Radio
6/11/2019 The Sasha Simone Show, BBC West Midlands, UK
29/5/2018 Lunchtime Live, Newstalk Radio, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
27/5/2018 The Stephen Nolan Show, BBC Radio 5 Live, UK
4/6/2015 The Daily, Talk Radio Europe, Spain
Podcasts
27/4/2020 Nourished Circle podcast with Lori Short-Zamudio RD, Canada Link
5/9/2019 Friend of Marilyn podcast with Dr Cat Pausé, New Zealand Link
3/12/2018 Body Kindness podcast with Rebecca Scritchfield, USA Link
Print media
4/24/2016 Sunday Times newspaper, UK. Journalist: Jonathan Leake Link
6/11/2015 WBUR blog (Boston public radio), USA. Journalist: Rachel Zimmerman Link
8/2015 Brasileiros magazine, Brazil Link
20/3/2015 Reuters Health News, USA. Journalist: Shereen Lehman Link
21/6/2014 The Guardian newspaper, UK. Journalist: Sarah Bosely Link
14/4/2013 The Guardian newspaper, UK. Journalist: Chris Elliott Link
2/2014 “Meet the mother shamers,” Aquarius magazine, Dubai, UAE. Journalist: Aoife Stuart-Madge
Television
15/8/2013 “The men who made us thin,” BBC2 documentary
Writing for the Public
Meadows A (2018, May 9). Discrimination against fat people is so endemic, most of us don’t even realise it’s happening. The Conversation Link
Meadows A (2016, March 22). Separate PE classes for fat kids is not the answer. Huffington Post UK Link
Meadows A (2015, Oct 7). Let them eat cake. Huffington Post UK Link
Meadows A (2015, Jun 1). Why do heavier children do worse at school? It’s not their fault. The Conversation Link
Meadows A (2014, Mar 19). Promoting prejudice: Ableism, weight stigma and just really bad science. Huffington Post UK Link
Meadows A (2013, Oct 21). Being nice to fat people? It matters. Huffington Post UK Link
Meadows A (2013, Jul 29). Health fat chef “too unhealthy” to live in New Zealand. Huffington Post UK Link
Meadows (2013, Jan 2). New Year – Same old nonsense about obesity. Huffington Post UK Link
Funding
2020: Samuel Clark Research Grant. Award value: CAD 1,595
2020: NSF-funded Social Science Extreme Events Research Network and CONVERGE facility, Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder (NSF Award #1841338). COVID-19 Working Groups for Public Health and Social Sciences Research: “Ethics, Equity, and Risk for Higher Weight People.” Award value: US$1,000
2019: ‘When fat people fight back: A mixed-methods investigation of individual difference factors and group dynamics in stigma resistance and collective action against discrimination.’ Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. Award value: CAD 140,000
2019: Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Grant-in-Aid Award. “Representation and positive role models in a stigmatised domain: Fat exercisers, self-efficacy, and future selves.” Award value US$450
2019: Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Early Career Scholars Travel Award. Award value US$960
2019: University of Exeter, School of Psychology travel award. Award value £1600
2018: ‘Responding to weight stigma: Helpful and unhelpful coping strategies’ Economic and Social Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship. Award value: £105,434
2018: Developing an experimental protocol for assessing psychological and physiological responses to weight stigma. Abu Dhabi University Faculty Research Incentive Grant. Role: Co-investigator. Award value: £4000 (AED 20,000).
2015: Universitas 21 Fellowship. Award value £1500.
2013: University of Birmingham Doctoral Researcher Development Grant. Award value £1500.
Honours & Awards
Runner up, Graduate Poster Conference, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, 2014
Winner, Birmingham Brief Competition, University of Birmingham, UK, 2013
University Medal, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2002
Biology Prize, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2001
Alumni Campus Chapter Honours Award (Biology), University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2001
Dean’s Merit List, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 1999–2001
Professional Affiliations
Society for Personality & Social Psychology, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, International Society for Self and Identity, International Society for Physical Activity and Health, Association for Size Diversity and Health
Teaching
Research supervision
Western University, Canada: Masters’s thesis directed (co-supervisor), 2020–2022
Western University, Canada: Undergraduate senior dissertation, 2020–2021
Western University, Canada: Undergraduate senior dissertation (co-supervisor), 2019–2020
University of Exeter, UK: Master’s thesis directed, MSc Social and Organisational Psychology, 2018–2019
University of Exeter, UK: Undergraduate senior thesis directed (2 students), 2018–2019
University of Exeter, UK: Visiting undergraduate research intern, 2019
Lecturing
Instructor of record, Understanding the Social in Social Psychology (PSY 4790), Western University, Canada, Spring 2021
Visiting lecturer, Kinesiology Graduate Seminar (KIN 9799Y) and Leadership in Physical Activity (KIN 3335), Lecture title: Weight stigma, health and exercise identity: What you need to know to work with higher-weight clients,” School of Kinesiology, Western University, Canada, 2020
Visiting lecturer, Exercise for Special Populations module (HSCI T480), Lecture title: Physical activity and the higher-weight client: Weight, stigma and health, College of Nursing and Health Professionals, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA, 2019
Visiting lecturer, MSc Obesity & Weight Management course module: Behaviour modification in weight management, Lecture title: Weight stigma among health care professionals, University of Chester, 2014
Visiting lecturer, BSc Nutrition & Health course module: Therapeutic approaches to nutrition, Lecture title: ‘The role of the professional relationship’, Edge Hill University, 2014
Tutoring & Graduate Teaching Assistant Experience
Workshop: “Not too long, not too short, but just write: Structure, style, and persuasion – a writing master class for students” 5th Annual International Weight Stigma Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, June 2017
Workshop: “Weight Science 101” 5th International Critical Dietetics Conference preconference, Manchester, UK, 14 August 2015. This was a half-day workshop that provide an overview of the science, but also hands-on training in how to locate, read, and critique scientific papers.
Writing mentorship programme, Academic Skills Centre, University of Birmingham, 2015
Graduate teaching assistant, Social Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2015
Graduate teaching assistant, Research Methods (2nd year psychology undergraduate statistics), University of Birmingham, 2013–2014
Writing skills for masters’ students (self-devised programme), Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, 2010–2012
Tutor, Epidemiology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, 2011–2012
Writing & Editorial
Current
Guest editor, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, special issue: Current advances in the study of weight stigma: Applied and intersectional lenses
Guest editor, Obesities, special issue: Weight stigma: Experiences, consequences, causes and remedies
Guest editor, Body Image, special issue: Advances and setbacks in weight stigma research
Editorial Board:
Body Image 2020–present
Fat Studies 2018–2020
Health Psychology Research 2015–2020
Ad hoc reviewer: American Journal of Preventive Medicine; BioMed Research International; Body Image; Canadian Journal of Public Health; Childhood Obesity; Clinical Obesity; Eating and Weight Disorders; Fat Studies; Frontiers in Psychology; Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada; Health Psychology; Health Psychology Research; International Journal of Behavioral Medicine; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; International Social Science Journal; Journal of Behavioral Medicine; Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics; Obesity; Obesity Reviews; Peer J; Preventive Medicine; Psychology and Health; Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health; Sex Roles; Social Cognition; Social Psychology and Personality Science; Stigma and Health.
Previous experience
Systematic Reviewer, Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, 2010–2012
Medical writer, Prime Medica, Knutsford, 2007–2008
Editor, Remedica Publishing, London, 2005
Angela Meadows 