Abstract
Stereotypical and prejudicial attitudes towards people considered overweight or obese are documented in professionals ranging from physicians, nurses, fitness and general nutrition professionals, and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) and may introduce barriers to equitable care. To identify the prevalence of anti-fat attitudes (AFA); fat phobia (FPS); and body appreciation scores (BA) in nutrition and dietetics’ students (ND) and non-nutrition and dietetics’ students (NND) through a cross-sectional design. During 2018, students (n=297) from two California State Universities completed a survey including three validated instruments. Additionally, height, weight, and waist circumference were collected using NHANES procedures. A series of ANCOVA’s and correlation coefficients were computed. Significant differences existed in BA between ND (M=3.61, SD=0.66) and NND students (M=3.81, SD=0.70); t(288) = 2.49, p=0.013. Scores indicated existing anti-fat attitudes and fat phobia. Significant positive correlations existed between FPS and anthropometrics. Weight related perceptions were identified. A need exists for a fundamental evidence-based training specifically focused on knowledge and awareness related to health metrics and social justice pedagogy to help RDN work unbiasedly with patients of all shapes.
Highlights
Modern cultures idealize thinness and denigrate heaviness (Puhl, Latner, O’Brien, Luedicke, Danielsdottir, & Forhan, 2015; Schwartz, O’Neal, Chambliss, Brownell, Blair, & Billington, 2003), which can contribute to stereotypical and prejudicial attitudes towards people considered overweight or obese
anti-fat attitudes (AFA) was not significantly different in nutrition and dietetics’ students (NND) vs. nutrition and dietetics’ students (ND) when controlling for BMI, F (1) =0.063, P=0.80
Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) was not significantly different in NND vs. ND when controlling for BMI, F (1) =0.09, P=0.75
Summary
Modern cultures idealize thinness and denigrate heaviness (Puhl, Latner, O’Brien, Luedicke, Danielsdottir, & Forhan, 2015; Schwartz, O’Neal, Chambliss, Brownell, Blair, & Billington, 2003), which can contribute to stereotypical and prejudicial attitudes towards people considered overweight or obese This prejudice, or bias, is observed within healthcare students and in health professionals ranging from physicians, nurses, fitness and health coaches, and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) Pescatello, 2018; Puhl, Wharton, & Heuer, 2009; Techman & Brownell, 2001) Documented associations from these professions link stereotypes of being ‘worthless, lazy and stupid’ with obese individuals (Pearl, Wadden, & Tronieri, 2018), resulting in adverse consequences, such as negative message internalization. Conclusion: A need exists for a fundamental evidence-based training focused on knowledge and awareness related to health metrics and social justice pedagogy to help RDN work unbiasedly with patients of all shapes
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