Prevalence of Obesity Bias in Dietetic Students

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To examine dietetic and other human sciences students perception of personal traits as influenced by weight.There is some evidence that physicians and nurses are biased against obese patients and that the expression of this negativity has the potential to impact quality of patient care. A likert type attitude assessment scale of personal traits was administered to 170 female students in College of Human Sciences (HS) including 38 dietetics majors (DM). Students were asked to rank 18 personal traits based on their view of female figures designed to look thin, normal, obese, or morbidly obese with regard to weight. A higher ranking value indicated a more negative perception regarding the trait. The sum of ranking means for personal traits were as follows by the HS students: thin 24.2, normal 21.9, obese 30.9, and morbidly obese 39.6; and by the DS: thin 27.5, normal 17.1, obese 30.8, and morbidly obese 39.4. Values for the thin, obese, and morbidly obese figures were significantly different(P< 0.01) from values for the normal figure in both groups of students. Both groups had sum of mean values indicating a much more negative perception of personal traits of the obese and morbidly obese figures. The normal weight figure was scored most positively by both student groups but the DS were slightly more positive regarding the normal weight figure and slightly more negative regarding the thin figure than the HS students. It can be concluded that obesity bias is prevalent ands further research on its impact on quality patient care in the area of medical nutrition therapy may be warranted.