Weight stigma and the development of body image resilience during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum: A qualitative interview study.

Weight stigma during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum undermines women's wellbeing and health behaviours, yet little is known about how women protect body image within weight-stigmatising environments. This qualitative study explored how women develop body image resilience in response to weight stigma across reproductive stages. Semi-structured Zoom interviews were conducted with 20 Australian women aged 25-42 years. Deductive content analysis identified sources of weight stigma, while reflexive thematic analysis explored resilience strategies. Women experienced stigma from their own mothers, older adults (including healthcare professionals), social and digital media, and self-stigma. Three resilience themes were generated: strategising self-protection through boundary-setting, asserting autonomy, and cultivating supportive relationships; breaking intergenerational cycles by recognising inherited body criticism and modelling body positivity for children; and embodying self-acceptance through age-related perspective, health prioritisation, and reproductive body appreciation. These findings position the reproductive period as integral to strengthening body image resilience and shaping healthier body attitudes across generations.