Rebecca L Pearl, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology
Business Phone:
(352) 294-5405
Business Email:
rebecca.pearl@ufl.edu
About Rebecca L Pearl
Dr. Rebecca L. Pearl is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology in the College of Public Health and Health Professions. She was previously an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Pearl received her A.B. from Duke University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yale University. She completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School and her post-doctoral fellowship at the Penn Center for Weight and Eating Disorders.
Related Links:
Accomplishments
APA Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology (Health Psychology)
2024
·
American Psychological Association
PHHP Early Career Innovator Award
2024
·
College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida
Rising Star Award
2024
·
Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida
NIH Director's New Innovator Award
2022
·
National Institutes of Health
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
2021-2025
CLP6971 Research for Master’s Thesis
2021,2023-2025
CLP7979 Advanced Research
2021,2024-2025
CLP7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2021-2022
PHC6937 Special Topics in Public Health
2022-2023
PHC6941 MPH Applied Practice Experience
2022
HSC4913 Supervised Research Experience
2022-2023,2025
HSC4970 Public Health and Health Professions Senior Honors Thesis
2023-2025
CLP3911 Introduction to Clinical Research
2023
PHC6406 Social Stigma and Public Health
2025
PHC6940 Master of Public Health Capstone
Research Profile
Dr. Pearl directs the Body Image and Stigma (BIAS) Lab, which investigates appearance- and health-related stigma and associated health outcomes. Her research primarily focuses on weight stigma, with a particular interest in understanding and reducing internalized or self-directed stigma. Her work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, including the 2022 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award.
Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)
0000-0002-1996-0082
Publications
Academic Articles
2025
Characterising first, recent and worst experiences of weight stigma in a clinical sample of adults with high body weight and high internalised stigma
Clinical Obesity.
[DOI] 10.1111/cob.70005.
2025
How Weight Bias and Stigma Undermine Healthcare Access and Utilization.
Current obesity reports.
14(1)
[DOI] 10.1007/s13679-025-00605-3.
[PMID] 39832116.
2025
The Impact of Fitness Influencers on Physical Activity Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.
[DOI] 10.1007/s41347-025-00513-2.
2025
The impact of patient weight on US mental health providers’ diagnosis of bulimia nervosa
Eating Disorders.
1-16
[DOI] 10.1080/10640266.2025.2465153.
2024
Bringing an end to diabetes stigma and discrimination: an international consensus statement on evidence and recommendations.
The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology.
12(1):61-82
[DOI] 10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00347-9.
[PMID] 38128969.
2024
Ending Weight Stigma to Advance Health Equity.
American journal of preventive medicine.
67(5):785-791
[DOI] 10.1016/j.amepre.2024.06.021.
[PMID] 38945180.
2024
Internalization of weight bias and stigma: Scientific challenges and opportunities.
American Psychologist.
79(9):1308-1319
[DOI] 10.1037/amp0001455.
2024
Longitudinal associations of internalized weight stigma with physical activity and weight loss.
Obesity science & practice.
10(4)
[DOI] 10.1002/osp4.773.
[PMID] 38966255.
2024
Measuring internalized health-related stigma across health conditions: development and validation of the I-HEARTS Scale.
BMC medicine.
22(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s12916-024-03661-z.
[PMID] 39379928.
2024
Psychological interventions for internalized weight stigma: a systematic scoping review of feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy.
Journal of eating disorders.
12(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s40337-024-01132-7.
[PMID] 39614347.
2023
Authors’ Response
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
123(3):400-403
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jand.2022.09.017.
2023
Comparing measurement of internalized weight stigma and body dissatisfaction.
Body image.
47
[DOI] 10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101622.
[PMID] 37672860.
2023
Development of a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Internalized Weight Stigma
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy.
53(2):165-172
[DOI] 10.1007/s10879-022-09543-w.
[PMID] 37483684.
2023
Long-term effects of an internalized weight stigma intervention: A randomized controlled trial.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
91(7):398-410
[DOI] 10.1037/ccp0000819.
2023
Longitudinal associations of binge eating with internalized weight stigma and eating self-efficacy.
Eating behaviors.
50
[DOI] 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101785.
[PMID] 37515998.
2023
Opportunities to advance research, intervention, and policy on stigma, eating disorders, and body image.
Journal of eating disorders.
11(1)
[DOI] 10.1186/s40337-023-00857-1.
[PMID] 37553695.
2023
Prevalence of diagnosed psychiatric disorders among adults who have experienced and internalized weight stigma.
Obesity science & practice.
9(6):681-687
[DOI] 10.1002/osp4.700.
[PMID] 38090681.
2023
Refining the conceptualization and assessment of internalized weight stigma: A mixed methods approach.
Body image.
44:93-102
[DOI] 10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.12.002.
[PMID] 36549092.
2023
Reflecting on mirror use for individuals with obesity: A response to Omondi and Freysteinson’s systematic review.
Journal of clinical nursing.
32(15-16):5414-5416
[DOI] 10.1111/jocn.16641.
[PMID] 36802081.
2022
Binge eating disorder and eating self-efficacy in adults seeking bariatric surgery.
Clinical obesity.
12(4)
[DOI] 10.1111/cob.12531.
[PMID] 35606940.
2022
Patient-Centered Care for Obesity: How Health Care Providers Can Treat Obesity While Actively Addressing Weight Stigma and Eating Disorder Risk.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
122(6):1089-1098
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jand.2022.01.004.
[PMID] 35033698.
2021
Adverse childhood experiences and weight stigma: Co-occurrence and associations with psychological well-being.
Stigma and Health.
6(4):408-418
[DOI] 10.1037/sah0000341.
[PMID] 34926807.
2021
Adverse Childhood Experiences Associated with Greater Internalization of Weight Stigma in Women with Excess Weight
Obesities.
1(1):49-57
[DOI] 10.3390/obesities1010005.
[PMID] 35463808.
2021
Eating and Exercise-Related Correlates of Weight Stigma: A Multinational Investigation.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
29(6):966-970
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.23168.
[PMID] 34029444.
2021
International comparisons of weight stigma: addressing a void in the field.
International journal of obesity (2005).
45(9):1976-1985
[DOI] 10.1038/s41366-021-00860-z.
[PMID] 34059785.
2021
Is weight stigma associated with physical activity? A systematic review.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
29(12):1994-2012
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.23274.
[PMID] 34747131.
2021
Policies to address weight discrimination and bullying: Perspectives of adults engaged in weight management from six nations.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
29(11):1787-1798
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.23275.
[PMID] 34612007.
2021
Prevalence and correlates of weight bias internalization in weight management: A multinational study.
SSM – population health.
13
[DOI] 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100755.
[PMID] 33718581.
2021
Weight Bias During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Current Obesity Reports.
10(2):181-190
[DOI] 10.1007/s13679-021-00432-2.
[PMID] 33738699.
2020
Anticipated and Perceived Stigma Among Patients With Psoriasis.
Journal of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
5(3):93-99
[DOI] 10.1177/2475530320924009.
[PMID] 33733037.
2020
Associations between causal attributions for obesity and long-term weight loss.
Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.).
46(2):87-91
[DOI] 10.1080/08964289.2018.1556202.
[PMID] 30657439.
2020
Coping with Weight Stigma Among Adults in a Commercial Weight Management Sample.
International journal of behavioral medicine.
27(5):576-590
[DOI] 10.1007/s12529-020-09895-4.
[PMID] 32430784.
2020
Effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting weight stigma: A randomized controlled trial.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
88(5):470-480
[DOI] 10.1037/ccp0000480.
[PMID] 31971410.
2020
Mindful Eating, General Mindful Awareness, and Acceptance as Predictors of Weight Loss
Mindfulness.
11(12):2818-2827
[DOI] 10.1007/s12671-020-01493-5.
[PMID] 33777254.
2020
Six-Month Follow-up from a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Weight BIAS Program.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
28(10):1878-1888
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.22931.
[PMID] 32860344.
2020
The “difficult” cadaver: weight bias in the gross anatomy lab.
Medical education online.
25(1)
[DOI] 10.1080/10872981.2020.1742966.
[PMID] 32182202.
2020
Weight Stigma and the “Quarantine-15”.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
28(7):1180-1181
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.22850.
[PMID] 32324954.
2020
Weight Stigma and Weight-Related Health: Associations of Self-Report Measures Among Adults in Weight Management
Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
54(11):904-914
[DOI] 10.1093/abm/kaaa026.
[PMID] 32333673.
2020
Weight stigma as a psychosocial contributor to obesity.
American Psychologist.
75(2):274-289
[DOI] 10.1037/amp0000538.
2020
Who’s a good boy? Effects of dog and owner body weight on veterinarian perceptions and treatment recommendations.
International journal of obesity (2005).
44(12):2455-2464
[DOI] 10.1038/s41366-020-0622-7.
[PMID] 32523035.
2019
Ageism and Health in Patients Undergoing Cosmetic Procedures.
Aesthetic surgery journal.
39(7):NP288-NP292
[DOI] 10.1093/asj/sjy283.
[PMID] 30346472.
2019
Early Weight Loss in Behavioral Treatment Predicts Later Rate of Weight Loss and Response to Pharmacotherapy.
Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
53(3):290-295
[DOI] 10.1093/abm/kay036.
[PMID] 29800080.
2019
Effects of addictive-like eating behaviors on weight loss with behavioral obesity treatment.
Journal of behavioral medicine.
42(2):246-255
[DOI] 10.1007/s10865-018-9958-z.
[PMID] 30066187.
2019
Health and appearance: Factors motivating the decision to seek bariatric surgery.
Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.
15(4):636-642
[DOI] 10.1016/j.soard.2019.01.015.
[PMID] 30803880.
2019
Stigmatizing attitudes toward persons with psoriasis among laypersons and medical students.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
80(6):1556-1563
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.08.014.
[PMID] 30171876.
2019
Weight Bias Internalization and Long-Term Weight Loss in Patients With Obesity
Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
53(8):782-787
[DOI] 10.1093/abm/kay084.
[PMID] 30304382.
2019
Weight bias internalization in a commercial weight management sample: prevalence and correlates.
Obesity science & practice.
5(4):342-353
[DOI] 10.1002/osp4.354.
[PMID] 31452919.
2019
Weight Stigma Among Sexual Minority Adults: Findings from a Matched Sample of Adults Engaged in Weight Management
Obesity.
27(11):1906-1915
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.22633.
[PMID] 31689008.
2018
“Last Supper” Predicts Greater Weight Loss Early in Obesity Treatment, but Not Enough to Offset Initial Gains.
Frontiers in psychology.
9
[DOI] 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01335.
[PMID] 30116212.
2018
A randomized controlled trial of lorcaserin and lifestyle counselling for weight loss maintenance: changes in emotion- and stress-related eating, food cravings and appetite.
Clinical obesity.
8(6):383-390
[DOI] 10.1111/cob.12279.
[PMID] 30222916.
2018
A Randomized Trial of Lorcaserin and Lifestyle Counseling for Maintaining Weight Loss Achieved with a Low‐Calorie Diet
Obesity.
26(2):299-309
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.22081.
2018
Acute Appearance Concerns in Patients Undergoing Mohs Surgery: A Single-Institution Cross-Sectional Study.
Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.].
44(10):1349-1351
[DOI] 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001431.
[PMID] 30256237.
2018
Causal Attributions for Obesity Among Patients Seeking Surgical Versus Behavioral/Pharmacological Weight Loss Treatment
Obesity Surgery.
28(11):3724-3728
[DOI] 10.1007/s11695-018-3490-7.
[PMID] 30191502.
2018
Everyday discrimination in a racially diverse sample of patients with obesity.
Clinical obesity.
8(2):140-146
[DOI] 10.1111/cob.12235.
[PMID] 29266824.
2018
Group cognitive-behavioral treatment for internalized weight stigma: a pilot study.
Eating and weight disorders : EWD.
23(3):357-362
[DOI] 10.1007/s40519-016-0336-y.
[PMID] 27787772.
2018
Improving Quality of Life Measurement in Skin Cancer Patients: Clinical Correlate for the Skin Cancer Index.
Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.].
44(8):1139-1140
[DOI] 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001426.
[PMID] 30045144.
2018
Influence of Repaired Cleft Lip and Palate on Layperson Perception following Orthognathic Surgery.
Plastic and reconstructive surgery.
142(4):1012-1022
[DOI] 10.1097/PRS.0000000000004778.
[PMID] 30020234.
2018
Preference for People-First Language Among Patients Seeking Bariatric Surgery.
JAMA surgery.
153(12):1160-1162
[DOI] 10.1001/jamasurg.2018.2702.
[PMID] 30193347.
2018
Reconsidering the Psychosocial‐Behavioral Evaluation Required Prior to Bariatric Surgery
Obesity.
26(2):249-250
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.22063.
2018
Short‐ and Long‐Term Changes in Health‐Related Quality of Life with Weight Loss: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial
Obesity.
26(6):985-991
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.22187.
[PMID] 29676530.
2018
Sociocultural and Familial Factors Associated with Weight Bias Internalization.
Obesity facts.
11(2):157-164
[DOI] 10.1159/000488534.
[PMID] 29656285.
2018
United States Preventive Services Task Force Overstates Cosmetic Harms of Skin Cancer Screening.
The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology.
11(4):52-53
[PMID] 29657674.
2018
Weight bias internalization and health: a systematic review
Obesity Reviews.
19(8):1141-1163
[DOI] 10.1111/obr.12701.
[PMID] 29788533.
2018
Weight Bias Internalization Is Negatively Associated With Weight-Related Quality of Life in Persons Seeking Weight Loss.
Frontiers in psychology.
9
[DOI] 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02576.
[PMID] 30618992.
2018
Weight Stigma Affects Men Too
Obesity.
26(6):949-949
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.22205.
[PMID] 29722473.
2017
Association between weight bias internalization and metabolic syndrome among treatment-seeking individuals with obesity.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
25(2):317-322
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.21716.
[PMID] 28124502.
2017
Binge Eating and Weight Loss Outcomes in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: 4‐Year Results from the Look AHEAD Study
Obesity.
25(11):1830-1837
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.21975.
[PMID] 29086498.
2017
Effects of medical trainees’ weight-loss history on perceptions of patients with obesity.
Medical education.
51(8):802-811
[DOI] 10.1111/medu.13275.
[PMID] 28497511.
2017
Lorcaserin plus lifestyle modification for weight loss maintenance: Rationale and design for a randomized controlled trial.
Contemporary clinical trials.
59:105-112
[DOI] 10.1016/j.cct.2017.06.004.
[PMID] 28600158.
2017
Orthognathic Surgery Has a Significant Effect on Perceived Personality Traits and Emotional Expressions.
Plastic and reconstructive surgery.
140(5):971-981
[DOI] 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003760.
[PMID] 29068935.
2017
Prevalence and psychosocial correlates of food addiction in persons with obesity seeking weight reduction.
Comprehensive psychiatry.
73:97-104
[DOI] 10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.11.009.
[PMID] 27930952.
2017
Sex Differences in Obesity and Mental Health.
Current psychiatry reports.
19(6)
[DOI] 10.1007/s11920-017-0784-8.
[PMID] 28439762.
2016
Positive beliefs about mental illness: Associations with sex, age, diagnosis, and clinical outcomes.
Journal of affective disorders.
204:197-204
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jad.2016.06.038.
[PMID] 27367308.
2016
The distinct effects of internalizing weight bias: An experimental study.
Body image.
17:38-42
[DOI] 10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.02.002.
[PMID] 26927688.
2015
Differential effects of weight bias experiences and internalization on exercise among women with overweight and obesity.
Journal of health psychology.
20(12):1626-32
[DOI] 10.1177/1359105313520338.
[PMID] 24505060.
2015
Experiencing weight bias in an unjust world: Impact on exercise and internalization.
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.
34(7):741-9
[DOI] 10.1037/hea0000178.
[PMID] 25401685.
2015
Exposure to Weight-Stigmatizing Media: Effects on Exercise Intentions, Motivation, and Behavior.
Journal of health communication.
20(9):1004-13
[DOI] 10.1080/10810730.2015.1018601.
[PMID] 26222998.
2015
Visual portrayals of obesity in health media: promoting exercise without perpetuating weight bias.
Health education research.
30(4):580-90
[DOI] 10.1093/her/cyv025.
[PMID] 26116585.
2014
Beyond personal responsibility: effects of causal attributions for overweight and obesity on weight-related beliefs, stigma, and policy support.
Psychology & health.
29(10):1176-91
[DOI] 10.1080/08870446.2014.916807.
[PMID] 24754230.
2014
Do media portrayals of obesity influence support for weight-related medical policy?
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.
33(2):197-200
[DOI] 10.1037/a0032592.
[PMID] 23668850.
2014
Measuring internalized weight attitudes across body weight categories: validation of the modified weight bias internalization scale.
Body image.
11(1):89-92
[DOI] 10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.09.005.
[PMID] 24100004.
2014
Overvaluation of shape and weight as a mediator between self-esteem and weight bias internalization among patients with binge eating disorder.
Eating behaviors.
15(2):259-61
[DOI] 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2014.03.005.
[PMID] 24854815.
2014
Weight bias internalization, depression, and self-reported health among overweight binge eating disorder patients.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
22(5):E142-8
[DOI] 10.1002/oby.20617.
[PMID] 24039219.
2012
Clinical correlates of the weight bias internalization scale in a sample of obese adolescents seeking bariatric surgery.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.).
20(3):533-9
[DOI] 10.1038/oby.2011.123.
[PMID] 21593805.
2012
Obesity and public policy.
Annual review of clinical psychology.
8:405-30
[DOI] 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032511-143129.
[PMID] 22224839.
2012
Positive media portrayals of obese persons: impact on attitudes and image preferences.
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.
31(6):821-9
[DOI] 10.1037/a0027189.
[PMID] 22309884.
Grants
Jan 2025
ACTIVE
Physical, Psychological, and Sociocultural Contributors of Internalized Weight Stigma in Individuals with Obesity: The Intersection of Weight with Age and Gender
Role: Other
Funding: PSI CHI, THE INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Sep 2023
– Mar 2025
Genetic Attributions and Racialized Perceptions of Obesity
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
via NATL INST OF HLTH NHGRI
Jul 2023
– Dec 2024
Exploring the Influence of Patients Weight and Race on Providers Diagnostic Accuracy of Bulimia Nervosa
Role: Other
Funding: SOC FOR THE PSYCHOL STUDY OF SOCIAL ISS
Sep 2022
– Jul 2024
A weight stigma-informed model to improve energy intake assessment
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND STATE UNIV
via NATL INST OF HLTH NINR
Sep 2022
ACTIVE
Transdiagnostic Intervention to Reduce Internalized Health-Related Stigma
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIMH
Aug 2022
ACTIVE
Investigating the relationship between internalized weight stigma and metabolic syndrome
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NHLBI
Dec 2020
– Nov 2023
Reducing Weight Stigma to Improve Long-Term Weight Loss
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NHLBI
Education
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology
2015
·
Yale University
M.Phil., Clinical Psychology
2012
·
Yale University
M.S., Clinical Psychology
2011
·
Yale University
A.B., Psychology (Minor in Literature)
2009
·
Duke University
Contact Details
Phones:
- Business:
- (352) 294-5405
Emails:
- Business:
- rebecca.pearl@ufl.edu
Addresses:
- Business Mailing:
-
University of Florida
PO Box 100165
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology
GAINESVILLE FL 32610