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
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.