Presenter Information

Rees CheckettsFollow

Class

Article

Graduation Year

2017

College

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Department

Faculty Mentor

Maya Miyairi

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

Weight bias has been linked with obesity epidemic and other weight-related concerns such as eating disorders in our society. Previous studies have found that healthcare providers such as medical doctors, nurses, and dieticians showed stigmatizing attitudes toward patients who are categorized as overweight or obese individuals. Due to those professionals’ negative attitudes toward the particular vulnerable population, patients expressed lack of willingness to seek out for help or students experienced negative psychological states. To find needs of weight bias training for undergraduate students in health education and related fields, we investigated weight bias attitudes among undergraduate students in the rocky mountain area. A cross-sectional design using the Photographic Figure Rating Scale and the Anti-fat Attitudes Scale (AFA) was conducted to examine students’ body perceptions toward their own body weight and others and also explicit weight bias attitudes. Following the removal of 59 cases with substantial missing data, the sample consisted of 199 participants (61 male, Mage = 25.03, SD = 6.47; 138 women, Mage = 23.17 years, SD = 5.85). One-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine whether career-focused groups such patient care, health education/public health, teaching, and others were associated with negative body perceptions in general. For example, all mean scores of the AFA were higher than previous studies and male mean scores of the AFA subscales (Dislike, Fear of Fat, Willpower) were significantly higher than scores among male participants in the original AFA study (i.e., M = 5.02, SD = 2.74, t(1,58) = 4.13 p < .001). Additionally, there was no gender difference on the AFA scores, which was also unexpected finding compared to the original AFA study. In our study, statistical analyses did not show significant differences between men and women on Dislike and Fear of Fat.

Location

South Atrium

Start Date

4-13-2017 3:00 PM

End Date

4-13-2017 4:15 PM

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Apr 13th, 3:00 PM Apr 13th, 4:15 PM

Let’s Talk about Weight Bias Attitudes among Future Health Professionals

South Atrium

Weight bias has been linked with obesity epidemic and other weight-related concerns such as eating disorders in our society. Previous studies have found that healthcare providers such as medical doctors, nurses, and dieticians showed stigmatizing attitudes toward patients who are categorized as overweight or obese individuals. Due to those professionals’ negative attitudes toward the particular vulnerable population, patients expressed lack of willingness to seek out for help or students experienced negative psychological states. To find needs of weight bias training for undergraduate students in health education and related fields, we investigated weight bias attitudes among undergraduate students in the rocky mountain area. A cross-sectional design using the Photographic Figure Rating Scale and the Anti-fat Attitudes Scale (AFA) was conducted to examine students’ body perceptions toward their own body weight and others and also explicit weight bias attitudes. Following the removal of 59 cases with substantial missing data, the sample consisted of 199 participants (61 male, Mage = 25.03, SD = 6.47; 138 women, Mage = 23.17 years, SD = 5.85). One-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine whether career-focused groups such patient care, health education/public health, teaching, and others were associated with negative body perceptions in general. For example, all mean scores of the AFA were higher than previous studies and male mean scores of the AFA subscales (Dislike, Fear of Fat, Willpower) were significantly higher than scores among male participants in the original AFA study (i.e., M = 5.02, SD = 2.74, t(1,58) = 4.13 p < .001). Additionally, there was no gender difference on the AFA scores, which was also unexpected finding compared to the original AFA study. In our study, statistical analyses did not show significant differences between men and women on Dislike and Fear of Fat.