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DS use is common on college campuses, and many DS users report favorable perceptions of efficacy. With the exception of tobacco use, collegiate DS users generally report lifestyles that are as healthy or healthier than non-users.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether weight bias exhibited by health care professionals (HCPs) impacts quality of health care provided to individuals with obesity. HCPs (n = 220; 88% female, 87% nurses) in the Midwest region of the United States were recruited to complete an online survey. In this within-subjects study design, participants completed the Attitudes Towards Obese Persons (ATOP) scale to assess weight bias and responded to 2 (1 person with obesity and 1 person without obesity) hypothetical patient scenarios to evaluate quality of care. A median split was calculated for ATOP scores to divide participants into high or low weight bias groups. Within these groups, thematic analysis was used to uncover themes in quality of care based on participants’ responses to each scenario. The analysis revealed that HCPs in the high weight bias group gave specific diet and exercise recommendations, offered health advice regarding weight loss, and used less teaching discourse when responding to the patient with obesity. In addition, in both weight bias groups, patients with obesity were started on pharmaceutical therapies sooner. The findings of this study suggest a need to educate HCPs on the importance of empathy and compassion when providing treatment to all patients, regardless of weight, to increase quality of care and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This study examined the relationship between healthy eating attitude and three variables: body satisfaction, diet quality, and body mass index (BMI). Data were collected from 1,579 students at a Midwestern university who completed online surveys. Results revealed participants with mild, moderate, or marked concern with their body satisfaction had lower healthy eating attitude scores than those with no body concern. A positive relationship was found between diet quality and healthy eating attitude. No significant correlations were identified between BMI and healthy eating attitude. Research on healthy eating attitudes is important to understand the effect on health and weight. These results might help school counselors, educators, and registered dietitians work with college students to promote the development of positive body satisfaction and healthy eating attitudes.