Weight Bias and Stigma

Fruh, Sharon; Graves, Rebecca; Hauff, Caitlyn; Williams, Susan G.; Hall, Heather

doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2021.07.001

Cited by 24 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…47 Similarly, role strain stress caused by the unique intersectionality AAW experience has also been shown to be a significant contributor to low levels of PA. 48 Societal weight bias is a well-documented phenomenon which is also thought to be a barrier to PA engagement. [49][50][51][52][53] Individuals may be stigmatized for having a larger body size than the local population they inhabit consequently creating a viscous cycle of discrimination and obesity. However, this population of rural AAW with severe obesity is situated in North Carolina where, according to 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System(BRFSS) reports, 68.2% of the population had overweight or obesity.…”

Section: Barriers To Physical Activity In Africanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rural African American Women With Severe Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Lifestyle Behaviors and Psychosocial Characteristics

Alick,

Braxton,

Skinner

et al. 2023

Am J Health Promot

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Purpose To examine differences in lifestyle behavioral and psychosocial factors between rural African American women with Class 3 obesity and those with overweight, and Class 1-2 obesity. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Rural Southeastern United States. Subjects Participants included 289 African American women with a mean age of 56 years, 66% with a high school education or less, and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 38.6 kg/m2; 35% (n = 102) were classified with Class 3 obesity. Measures We objectively measured height, weight, and physical activity steps/day. Self-reported dietary and physical activity behaviors, general health-related quality of life, mental health, and social support were measured with validated surveys. Analysis Chi-Square analysis for categorical variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) – via multiple linear regression – for continuous variables. Results There were no significant demographic differences between BMI groups, except for age, where women with Class 3 obesity were on average younger (51 vs 58 y, P < .001). Although dietary behaviors did not differ significantly between groups, we observed significant group differences in self-reported and objective measures of physical activity. The age-adjusted difference in means for self-reported total physical activity minutes/wk. was 91 minutes, with women categorized with Class 3 obesity reporting significantly fewer weekly minutes than those with overweight/Class 1-2 obesity (64.3 vs 156.4 min/wk. respectively, P < .01). Among psychosocial variables, only in the physical component scores of health-related quality of life did we find significant group differences – lower physical well-being among women with Class 3 obesity compared to those with overweight/Class 1-2 obesity ( P = .02). Conclusion For African American women with Class 3 obesity living in rural setting, these findings suggest behavioral weight loss interventions may need to target physical activity strategies that address physical, psychosocial, and environmental barriers.

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Section: Barriers To Physical Activity In Africanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rural African American Women With Severe Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Lifestyle Behaviors and Psychosocial Characteristics

Alick,

Braxton,

Skinner

et al. 2023

Am J Health Promot

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“…While we are aware that the above limitations warrant further research into perceived weight stigmatization in the EU, our study lays the basis for developing interventions that aim to protect people with morbid obesity against the harmful effects of weight discrimination. It is important that strategies for reducing obesity bias are also present in the healthcare sector [50].…”

Section: Study Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Perceived Weight Discrimination between Polish and German Patients Underwent Bariatric Surgery or Endoscopic Method versus Conservative Treatment for Morbid Obesity: An International Multicenter Study

et al. 2022

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the level of discrimination among patients with obesity living in Poland and Germany. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional international multicenter survey study including 564 adult participants treated for morbid obesity at selected healthcare facilities in Germany (210 patients) and in Poland (354 patients). Discrimination was evaluated using a custom-made questionnaire based on the related literature. Results: The level of obesity discrimination did not differ between German and Polish patients (p = 0.4282). The presence of obesity was reported to be associated to a large or a very large extent with the feeling of social exclusion and discrimination by 46.63% of German participants and 42.09% of Polish ones (p = 0.2934). The mean level of discrimination related to the lack of employment was higher in patients who underwent bariatric surgery or endoscopic method than in those who underwent conservative treatment (for Germany: 2.85 ± 1.31 (median, 3) vs. 2.08 ± 1.31 (median, 1), p = 0.002; for Poland: 2.43 ± 1.15 (median, 2) vs. 1.93 ± 1.15 (median, 1), p = 0.005). The level of discrimination was associated with sex, age, the degree of obesity, and treatment-related weight loss (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings confirm that obesity significantly affects the social and economic well-being of patients. There is a great need to reduce weight stigma and to take measures to alleviate the socioeconomic and psychological burden of obesity.

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“…These negative attributes can become internalised, resulting in low self-esteem with a detrimental impact on mental health and well-being, potentially resulting in a reluctance to seek medical help (Bidstrup et al, 2021). Stigma and bias are widespread (Fruh et al, 2021;Puhl et al, 2021b). Both implicit and explicit weight-related bias have been demonstrated in healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors, dietitians and physiotherapists (Lawrence et al, 2021).…”

Section: Weight-related Stigmamentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding obesity and addressing stigma: the role of healthcare professionals

Mulrooney¹

2022

Nursing Standard

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Covid-19 has further highlighted the importance of obesity as a health issue for adults and children. Prevalence in both groups has increased since the onset of the pandemic. Obesity is frequently seen as a behaviour change issue with individual responsibility rather than a complex multifactorial disease with a strong genetic component. It is both highly visible and highly stigmatised. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, have important roles in facilitating healthful behaviour change, discussing weight in neutral and respectful ways. This article first outlines the impact of the pandemic on weight and weight-related behaviours, then discusses complexity of obesity and weight stigma. It concludes with application to practice for nurses, discussing their roles and the importance of advocating for action to address the obesogenic environment.

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Weight Bias and Stigma

Cited by 24 publications

References 72 publications

Rural African American Women With Severe Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Lifestyle Behaviors and Psychosocial Characteristics

Rural African American Women With Severe Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Lifestyle Behaviors and Psychosocial Characteristics

Comparison of Perceived Weight Discrimination between Polish and German Patients Underwent Bariatric Surgery or Endoscopic Method versus Conservative Treatment for Morbid Obesity: An International Multicenter Study

Understanding obesity and addressing stigma: the role of healthcare professionals

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