Table 1 Summary of included studies with outcomes categorised as psychological, physical and social factors

Ahorsu et al. [41]

Prospective (Iran)

1497 (54.30%)

15.10 ± 6.00

baseline = 31.8 ± 5.4

six-months = 33.8 ± 5.1

WBIS

3.8 (± 0.97)

**IWS versus binge eating at follow-up: r = 0.22, p =  < 0.01

IWS versus psychological distress at follow-up: r = 0.15, p =  < 0.01

IWS versus food addiction follow-up: r = 0.21, p =  < 0.01

Ciupitu-Plath et al. [21]

Cross-sectional (Germany)

191 (51.31%)

(13–19)

German: 46.6%

Other: 49.74%

BMI 26–29 kg/m² = 15.71%

BMI > 30 kg/m² = 33.51%

BMI > 35 kg/m² = 47.74%

WBIS-Y

Girls: 4.01

Boys: 3.54

*Self-esteem: α =  − 0.70

Internal related LoC: α = − 0.01

External related LoC: α = 0.28

Self-efficacy: α = − 0.39

generic health-related quality of life: α = − 0.50

*BMI-SDS: α = 0.20

obesity-specific QoL: α = − 0.77

Fan et al. [39]

Cross-sectional (China)

430 dyads (44%)

10.07 ± 1.42; (8–12)

18.47 ± 4.16

WBIS; WSSQ

WBI: 1.59 (0.56) WBI Boys:1.50 (0.53)

BMI > 25 kg/m²: 1.47 (0.48)

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²: 2.06 (0.62)

**Perceived weight stigma: 0.81, p < 0.001

**Sex: r = 0.06

BMI: r = 0.025, p < 0.001

**Weight stigma: r = 0.39, p < 0.001

Gmeiner et al. [32]

Prospective (Germany)

1463 (51.74%)

8.35, ± 0.94; (6–11)

BMI < 18.5 kg/m² = 6.08%

BMI 18.5–25 kg/m² = 80.72%

BMI > 25 kg/m² = 3.19%

WBIS-C

Girls: 1.68 (0.62)

Boys:1.56 (0.56)

BMI > 25 kg/m²: 2.16 (0.68)

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²: 1.53 (0.52)

***Body dissatisfaction: r = 0.36, p < 0.001

Relevance of one’s own figure: r = 0.2, p < 0.001

Self-esteem: r = − 0.05, p = 0.046

Depressive symptoms r = 0.24, p < 0.001

***BMI-SDS: r = 0.43, p < 0.001

***Weight-related teasing: r = 0.28, p < 0.001

Gmeiner et al. [34]

Cross-sectional (Germany)

1061 (52.1%)

11 ± 0.9;

(9–13)

BMI < 18.5 kg/m² t: 8%

BMI 18.5–25 kg/m²: 78.3% BMI 25–30 kg/m²: 8.1%

BMI > 30 kg/m²: 5.6%

WBIS-C

1.55 ± 0.55)

BMI > 25 kg/m²: 2.09, ± 0.66

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²: 1.46 ± 0.47

¶¶¶ WBIS-C versus SDQ: AUC = 0.67, p < 0.001

WBIS-C versus SCOFF: AUC = 0.77, p < 0.001

Himmelstein et al. [38]

Cross-sectional (USA)

148 (50%)

15.97 ± 1.25

White: 90.6%

Black: 2.0%

Asian: 2.7%

Latino: 4.7%

27.06 ± 4.39

WBIS-M

5.45 (0.88)

***WBI versus responding to bullying with negative emotions: β = 0.62, p =  < 0.001

WBI versus responding to bullying with indifference: β = − 0.07, p = 0.487

WBI versus coping with avoidance: β = 0.39, p =  < 0.001

WBI versus coping with eating: β

 = 0.70, p =  < 0.001

Kamolthip et al. [26]

Cross-sectional (Hong-Kong)

437 dyads (43.90%)

10.07 ± 1.43;

(8–12)

18.59 ± 4.25

WBIS; WSSQ

Ative group: r = 22.51 (8.04)

Non-active group: r = 24.10 (8.62)

WSSQ active group: r = 22.67 (8.58)

WSSQ non-active group: r = 24.34 (9.36)

Self-stigma active group: r = 34.54 (11.67)

Self-stigma non-active group: r = 37.13 (12.67)

**Physical activity versus self-stigma r =  − 0.11, p = .029

Self-stigma versus Kid-KINDL child-rated: r =  − 0.38, p < .001

Self-stigma versus parent-rated r =  − 0.21, p < .001

Self-stigma versus SMU r =  − 0.60, p < .001

Self-stigma versus STU r =  − 0.34, p < .001

Lin et al. [42]

Cross-sectional (Iran)

934 (52.46%)

15.7 ± 1.2;

(13–18)

33.0 ± 4.7

WBIS

3.0 ± 0.5

¶ DASS-21: r = 0.38 (p < 0.001)

¶ zBMI: r = 0.23 (p < 0.001)

Maïano et al. [45]

Cross-sectional (Canada)

156 (48%)

16.31 ± 0.85 (14–19)

BMI 26–29 kg/m² (76.3%) BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (23.7%)

WWSQ

Self-devaluation: 0.778 fear of enacted stigma: 0.828

**WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Self-esteem: r = − 0.437, p < 0.001

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Physical appearance: r = − 0.428, p < 0.001

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Anxiety: r = 0.242, p < 0.01

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Depression: r = 0.257 p < 0.01

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus FNAES: r = 0.429, p < 0.001

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Eating-related control: r = 0.241 p < 0.01

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Vomiting-purging behaviours: r = 0.140, p < 0.05

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Food preoccupation: r = 0.366, p < 0.001

WSSQ (self-devaluation) versus Eating-related guilty: r = 0.429, p < 0.001

O'Brien et al. [24]

Cross-sectional (Australia)

634 (73.40%)

19.70 ± 3.07

White: 60%

Asian or pacific islander: 37% Black: 3%

22.40 ± 4.14

WBIS-M

BMI > 25 kg/m²: 3.91 (1.65)

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²: 2.77 (1.29)

**WBIS versus BMI: r = 0.15, p < 0.001

WBIS versus Gender: r = 0.23, p < 0.0001

WBIS versus Stigma total: r = 0.56, p < 0.0001

WBIS versus DASS-21: r = 0.51, p < 0.0001

WBIS versus Emotional eating: r = 0.52, p < 0.0001

WBIS versus Uncontrolled eating: r = 0.47, p < 0.0001

WBIS versus LOCES-B: r = 0.65, p < 0.0001

O'Hara et al. [43]

Cross-sectional (UAE)

420 (100%)

23.12 ± 4.62

24.09 ± 5.77

WEB-SG

20.15 (11.65)

**WEB-SG versus BMI: r = 0.47**

WEB-SG versus EAT-26: r = 0.43**

WEB-SG versus TF: r = 0.30**

WEB-SG versus BT: r = 0.39**

WEB-SG versus AFA: r = 0.43**

WEB-SG versus SAAS: r = 0.56**

WEB-SG versus SATAQ: r = 0.35**

*p < 0.055; **p < 0.01

Pakpour et al. [46]

Cross-sectional (China)

287 (46.70%)

10.21 ± 1.31 (8–12)

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²: 66.2%

BMI > 25 kg/m²: 33.8%

WSSQ; WBIS

191 ± 0.75

WBIS: 2.28 ± 0.64

**WBIS versus PWD: r = 0.35, p < 0.001

WBIS versus Kid-KINDL: r  = − 0.32, p < 0.001

WBIS versus Sizing me up: r = − 0.51, p < 0.001

WSSQ versus PWD: r = 0.38, p < 0.001WSSQ versus Kid-KINDL: r = − 0.37, p < 0.001

WSSQ versus Sizing me up: r = − 0.59, p < 0.001

Pik Chu Wong et al. [44]

Cross-sectional (Hong-Kong)

124 dyads (40%)

OW: 9.36 ± 1.17; 8–12

Non-OW = 9.73 ± 1.28

(8–12)

BMI > 25 kg/m² = 22.86 ± 2.32

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m² = 16.27 ± 2.10

WBIS; WSSQ

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m² group: 26.49 ± 8.68

BMI > 25 kg/m² group 21.58 ± 7.54

WSSQ BMI ≤ 25 kg/m² 14.50 ± 4.89

WSSQ BMI > 25 kg/m² 11.02 ± 4.37

**OW group

WBIS versus BSRS-5: r = 0.525, p < 0.001

WSSQ versus BSRS-5: r = 0.336, p < 0.001

Non-OW group

WBIS versus BSRS-5: r = 0.376, p < 0.001

WSSQ versus BSRS-5: r = 0.298, p < 0.001

Puhl et al. [35]

Cross-sectional (USA)

15.26 ± 1.63

(13–18)

White: 90.5%

Black: 2%

Asian: 2.7%

Latino: 4.7%

27.06 ± 4.39

WBIS

5.45 ± 0.88

Girls: 5.40 ± 0.97

Boys: 5.49 ± 0.78

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²: 5.02* ± 0.59

BMI 26–29 kg/m²: 5.40* ± 0.87

BMI > 30 kg/m²: 5.85* ± 0.92

***WBI versus Binge eating: β = − 0.18

WBI versus Eating to cope: β = 0.50

WBI versus Female: β = 0.04

WBI versus BMI; β = 0.02

WBI versus Race: β = − 0.05

WBI versus Frequency of mother’s comments about adolescents: β = 0.24

WBI versus Frequency of mother’s comments about their own weight: β = 0.20

Ra et al. [40]

Cross-sectional (Korea)

233 (100%)

13.43 ± 0.68; (12–14)

53.92 ± 30.30

WBIS

0.08 ± 1.01

***Fear of obesity: β = .43, p < .001

Attachment to teacher: β = − .11, p = .029

Perceived socio-cultural pressure β = .34, p < .001

Roberto et al. [36]

Cross-sectional (USA)

57 (80.70%)

15.65 ± 1.08; (14–18)

White: 50.9%

Hispanic: 31.6%

Hispanic African American: 12.3%

Other: 5.3%

46.92 ± 7.86 (35.90–72.30)

WBIS

4.29 ± 1.52

**WBIS versus age: r = 0.169

WBIS versus Beck Depression Inventory: r = 0.520, p < 0.01

WBIS versus Youth Self-Report Total: r = 0.310, p < 0.05

WBIS versus Paediatric Quality of Life Teen Self-report: r =—0.483, p < 0.01

WBIS versus Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children: r = 0.467, p < 0.01

WBIS versus Eating Concern Subscale r = 0.581, p < 0.01

WBIS versus Restraint subscale: r = − 0.081

WBIS versus Shape Concern Subscale: r = 0.813, p < 0.01

WBIS versus Weight Concern Subscale: r = 0.570, p < 0.01

WBIS versus BMI: r = 0.044

Romano et al. [37]

Cross-sectional (USA)

Sample 1; 1228 (75.8%)

22.27 ± 5.83

Sample 2 = 1368 (75.80%)

20.60 ± 3.47

White: 41.2%

Black or African American: 37.8%

Multiracial:12.7%

Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander: 5.0%

Other race: 2.7%

American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0.6%

Hispanic or Latinx: 14.4%

26.47 ± 6.57

WBIS-M

BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²: 2.59 (1.27)

BMI 26–29 kg/m² group mean: 3.39 (1.48)

BMI > 30 kg/m² group mean: 4.07 (1.57)

¶¶ WBI versus BMI r = 0.385, p < 0.001

WBI versus Experienced weight stigma: r = 0.440, p < 0.001

WBI versus Body dissatisfaction: r = 0.740, p < 0.001

WBI versus Binge eating: r = 0.439, p < 0.001

WBI versus Purging: r = 0.377, p < 0.001

WBI versus Restricting: r = 0.206, p < 0.001

WBI versus Excessive exercise: 0.095, p < 0.01

WBI versus Muscle building: 0.055 (not sig)

Saffari et al. [47]

Cross-sectional (China)

391 (100%)

22.85 ± 4.03

21.30 ± 3.53

WSSQ

30.49 (10.58)

High physical activity group: 30.40 (10.01)

Moderate physical activity group: 26.37 (10.82)

Low physical activity group: 31.74 (10.33)

¶¶ WRSS versus Age: r = 0.04 (0.40)

WRSS versus Weight status: r = 0.40 (< 0.001)

WRSS versus Psychological distress: r = 0.45 (< 0.001)

Zub et al. [33]

Prospective (Germany)

1047 (52%)

Time 1: 9.0 ± 0.9;

(7–11)

Time 2: 10.5 ± 0.97;

(7–11)

BMI <18.5 kg/m² = 6.3%

BMI 18.5–25 kg/m² = 81.4%

BMI > 25 kg/m² = 12.4%

WBIS-C

WBIS:23.33 (8.33)

WSSQ Q1-6 score: 12.51 (4.70)

WSSQ Q7-12 score: 10.94 (4.88)

**Perceived Weight stigma: r = 0.81

Child related KID-KINDL: r = − 0.38

**BMI: r = 0.25

**Experienced weight stigma: r = 0.39

Sizing me up: r = − 0.60

Sizing them up: r = − 0.34