Weight stigma and fat phobia in Poland – attitudes towards people living with obesity and the level of knowledge about obesity among the social media internet respondents and medical professionals

Abstract

IntroductionObesity often subjects individuals to stigmatization, impacting self-esteem, contributing to depression, social isolation, and even exacerbating weight gain. Our research aimed to evaluate weight stigma, fat phobia, their expressions, and obesity-related knowledge among social media internet respondents and medical practitioners in Poland.MethodsConducted through Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI), our study employed the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) and tailored questions, analyzing 1705 questionnaires.ResultsThe respondents averaged a score of 3.60 ± 0.62 on the FPS. Interestingly, men exhibited higher stigma levels than women. Variables like BMI, residency, and interactions with people having obesity did not significantly impact stigma levels. Approximately 74.0% of respondents found individuals with obesity less attractive than those with normal weight, while 32.2% identified obesity as a cause of shame. Only 69.1% were aware of the BMI-based obesity diagnosis criterion.ConclusionGiven limited knowledge of Poland’s weight stigma landscape, our research yields crucial insights for shaping social campaigns and enhancing educational initiatives in obesity management for healthcare professionals. Further studies will be instrumental in addressing patient and practitioner needs effectively.

Maladaptive Eating Behaviours, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Depression Severity: A Comparative Study between Adult Women with Overweight, Obesity, and Normal Body Mass Index Range

“…The aforementioned Finnish population consisted of very young women, with a mean age of 18.6 years, whereas our population consisted of mostly middle-aged women, with a mean age of 38.9 years. Our results also vary in the context of Cognitive Restraint, which is usually associated positively with a higher BMI [10,24] or is not associated with body weight [5,25]. Interestingly, a German sample of middle-aged adults exhibited a reversed U-shaped association between cognitive restraint and BMI, where BMI was high in subjects with medium cognitive restraint [24].…”

“…Similar to depression, anxiety, and perceived stress affect individuals with obesity. Especially, perceived stress is considered a linkage between body image, stigma, and depressive symptoms, as well as food addiction [ 5 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. There is an association between weight management and stress management.…”

“…Obesity is the result of complex relationships between epigenetic, genetic, psychological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors [ 3 , 4 ]. Due to its common occurrence, obesity is now an emerging topic of scientific study, not only in terms of pathogenesis but also because of its economic and societal impact [ 5 ]. Positive energy balance in obesity is related to numerous factors, including eating patterns affected by maladaptive eating behaviours or potentially occurring eating disorders.…”

Association Between Symptoms of Depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder evaluated through PHQ-9 and GAD-7 and anti-obesity treatment in Polish Adult Women

“…Obesity contributes to heightened psychological distress. Cultural norms surrounding beauty ideals may amplify body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem, both of which are linked to depression and anxiety [7,25,26]. Women with obesity are more likely to be dissatis ed with their weight and experience social problems as compared to women of culturally acceptable weight [27].…”

Is Obesity a Cause for Shame? Weight Bias and Stigma among Physicians, Dietitians, and Other Healthcare Professionals in Poland—A Cross-Sectional Study

“…As a response to this gap, our research group, comprised of representatives from the Scientific Section of the Polish Society of Family Medicine in collaboration with the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education and the Polish Society and Lifestyle Medicine, embarked on a study focusing on weight stigma and fat phobia in Poland using the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) combined with a custom questionnaire. This article represents the second part of our research, with the first part primarily investigating weight bias among the general public [16]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of weight bias and stigma among healthcare professionals (physicians, dietitians, and others) in Poland.…”