What is the felt experience of weight stigma in Latin America and the Caribbean? A systematic narrative review.

This systematic narrative review synthesized 46 studies concerning felt weight stigma in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), addressing a gap in global stigma research. Drawing from literature in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, the study applied inductive and deductive approaches to analyze the presence of felt weight stigma and the reasons that "mattered most" in the region. The findings confirmed the relevance of felt weight stigma and its associated profound emotional harm, social exclusion, bullying, moral stereotypes, and family issues, with gendered dimensions. While many patterns mirror those from the Global North, we identified the importance of relational dynamics deeply embedded in the region's sociocultural and moral life. An initial locally grounded theoretical model was proposed. The review underscores the importance of interventions that target what "mattered most" and adopt an intersectional, justice-oriented approach, grounded in local theoretical frameworks to address weight stigma as a public health concern in LAC.