Marriage and Family Therapists’ Perspectives on Treating Overweight Clients and Their Weight-Related Behaviors

Marriage and Family Therapy Trainees' Reports of Explicit Weight Bias

“…The growing rate of overweight and obesity in the USA implies that MFTs will work with individuals who are overweight or obese, who may have previously been victims of weight bias. Past research conducted with a sample of MFTs confirmed that MFTs are working with clients who are overweight on weight‐related issues, but have not received training on how to do so (Pratt et al, ). To uphold Principle 1 of the AAMFT Code of Ethics, it is important that therapists are aware of their biases about body size and weight, and through “self‐of‐the‐therapist” training work toward sensitively engaging this population.…”

“…Clinical training in MFT focuses on the impact of oppression for groups based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and poverty, but rarely are body size and weight included. In a recent study sampling MFT trainees (Pratt, Holowacz, & Walton, ), faculty, and clinicians, MFTs reported that they are not trained to work with overweight clients on their weight‐related behaviors despite the fact that they are currently treating these clients in practice. Additionally, participants believed they should receive training on how to do so effectively and sensitively.…”

The Meaning of Obesity among Marriage and Family Therapists

“…However, paucity exists in the discussion regarding the role and training of behavioral specialists, such as marriage and family therapists (MFTs) who may work with obese populations. Arguably, marriage and family therapists may be uniquely qualified to assist clients who struggle with the psychological, psychosocial, and relational aspects of obesity, weight loss, eating disorders, body image, and other weight-related concerns, given their attention to systemic, relational, and biopsychosocial perspectives towards clinical treatment [6].…”

“…While some students may gain exposure and training specifically in working with obese populations during their internship experiences, the standard preparation process for potentially working with this population during the didactic portion of these students' clinical training remains unclear. With the exception of a few studies [6][7][8], there has been a lack of discussion regarding the training methods used to prepare marriage and family therapists to work with obese populations. In addition, the existing work has been focused on perspectives of treatment, with limited exploration regarding epistemology, knowledge, and perceptions of obesity as a phenomenon and as a clinical treatment issue.…”

“…While previous researchers have assessed how marriage and family therapists think about treatment utilizing quantitative measures, to date there has not been a study that specifically explores what marriage and family therapists know about obesity in terms of their general knowledge. While it is known that MFTs have a unique lens to treat obesity and conceptualize how obesity fits within family systems [6], what is not known is information about marriage and family therapists' epistemology as it relates to obesity. Arguably, epistemology informs therapists' attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs, which all may have implications for clinical treatment.…”