Do media portrayals of obesity influence support for weight-related medical policy?

Brochu, Paula M.; Pearl, Raymond; Puhl, Rebecca M.; Brownell, Kelly D.

doi:10.1037/a0032592

Cited by 45 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These findings suggest that the formation, maintenance, and expression of implicit anti-fat attitudes may be at least somewhat sensitive to common media depictions of people with obesity. Recent experimental studies have found that viewing images of people with obesity engaged in stereotypical stigmatizing activities increased explicit bias toward obese people compared to viewing positive images [9–11]. The present study suggests that implicit attitudes may be strengthened by visual media portrayals of obese individuals engaging in stereotypical behaviors (e.g., overeating/watching TV).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 44%

“…Recent experimental studies have found that viewing images of people with obesity engaged in stereotypical stigmatizing activities increased explicit bias toward obese people compared to viewing positive images [9, 10]. Similarly, in experimental research on media portrayals of obesity and weight-related medical policy, participants who view non-stigmatizing images were less supportive of a policy to deny obese women fertility treatment than participants who viewed stigmatizing images [11]. However, an unanswered question in implicit weight bias research remains: is weight bias stronger when obese and thin people are shown engaging in stereotype consistent behaviors (e.g., obese—watching TV/eating junk food; thin—exercising/eating healthy) as opposed to the converse?…”

Section: Implicit Weight Bias and Stereotype Incongruent Imagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stereotypical images and implicit weight bias in overweight/obese people

et al. 2013

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Purpose In this brief report, an unanswered question in implicit weight bias research is addressed: Is weight bias stronger when obese and thin people are pictured engaging in stereotype consistent behaviors (e.g., obese—watching TV/eating junk food; thin—exercising/eating healthy) as opposed to the converse? Methods Implicit Associations Test (IAT) data were collected from two samples of overweight/obese adults participating in weight loss treatment. Both samples completed two IATs. In one IAT, obese and thin people were pictured engaging in stereotype consistent behaviors (e.g., obese—watching TV/eating junk food; thin—exercising/eating healthy). In the second IAT, obese and thin people were pictured engaging in stereotype inconsistent behaviors (e.g., obese—exercising/eating healthy; thin—watching TV/eating junk food). Results Implicit weight bias was evident regardless of whether participants viewed stereotype consistent or inconsistent pictures. However, implicit bias was significantly stronger for stereotype consistent compared to stereotype inconsistent images. Conclusion Implicit anti-fat attitudes may be connected to the way in which people with obesity are portrayed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 44%

Section: Implicit Weight Bias and Stereotype Incongruent Imagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stereotypical images and implicit weight bias in overweight/obese people

et al. 2013

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“…Weight discrimination is the unjust treatment of individuals because of their weight . Individuals with obesity experience discrimination from educators , employers, health professionals , the media and even from friends and family . Although weight discrimination is pervasive in our society, few efforts have been made to address it .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing weight bias and discrimination: moving beyond raising awareness to creating change

et al. 2017

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Weight discrimination is the unjust treatment of individuals because of their weight. There have been very few interventions to address weight discrimination, due in part to the lack of consensus on key messages and strategies. The objective of the third Canadian Weight Bias Summit was to review current evidence and move towards consensus on key weight bias and obesity discrimination reduction messages and strategies. Using a modified brokered dialogue approach, participants, including researchers, health professionals, policy makers and people living with obesity, reviewed the evidence and moved towards consensus on key messages and strategies for future interventions. Participants agreed to these key messages: (1) Weight bias and obesity discrimination should not be tolerated in education, health care and public policy sectors; (2) obesity should be recognized and treated as a chronic disease in health care and policy sectors; and (3) in the education sector, weight and health need to be decoupled. Consensus on future strategies included (1) creating resources to support policy makers, (2) using personal narratives from people living with obesity to engage audiences and communicate anti-discrimination messages and (3) developing a better clinical definition for obesity. Messages and strategies should be implemented and evaluated using consistent theoretical frameworks and methodologies.

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“…The ways in which obesity is portrayed in the news media can shape how people considered obese are understood by the general public (12,13,18). Because of the increasing presence of social media, weight loss and other health-related information are frequently sought through interactive forums such as Facebook, Twitter and Yahoo Answers (19)(20)(21)(22).…”

Section: What This Study Adds?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring women's responses to online media coverage of weight loss surgery

et al. 2015

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The purpose of this study was to understand the reactions of women to online news articles about weight loss surgery and related reader comments. Focus groups were conducted; open-ended questions were asked to elicit responses to existing online news media content related to weight loss surgery. The participants described the online articles as predominantly supportive of weight loss surgery and in response they expressed a desire to see more critical content, including different and competing perspectives. Participants felt the online comments represented extreme perspectives and were predominately negative. These were therefore not viewed as helpful or informative. Nevertheless, readers viewed comments as a form of entertainment. Because of the aggressive and anonymous nature of reader comments in response to online news stories, the participants did not feel comfortable leaving comments themselves on the news sites. Findings highlight the importance of gathering readers' perspectives in response to interactive media content and, in particular, health information.

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Do media portrayals of obesity influence support for weight-related medical policy?

Abstract: The findings indicate that simply eliminating stigmatizing media portrayals of obesity may help reduce bias.

Cited by 45 publications

References 16 publications

Stereotypical images and implicit weight bias in overweight/obese people

Stereotypical images and implicit weight bias in overweight/obese people

Addressing weight bias and discrimination: moving beyond raising awareness to creating change

Exploring women's responses to online media coverage of weight loss surgery

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