Obesity Stigma and Bias

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are escalating in epidemic proportions in the United States. Individuals with overweight and obesity are often reluctant to seek medical help, not only for weight reduction but also for any health issue because of perceived provider discrimination. Providers who are biased against individuals with obesity can hinder our nation’s effort to effectively fight the obesity epidemic. By addressing weight bias in the provider setting, individuals affected by obesity may be more likely to engage in a meaningful and productive discussion of weight. Providers need to be the go-to source for obesity-focused information on new and emerging treatments.

Unmet needs in obesity management

“…Fruh et al. () provide further information on recognizing barriers and implementing effective weight maintenance strategies.…”

“…In many cases, weight-related challenges are a lifelong problem, often dating back to adolescence (Malterud & Ulriksen, 2011). Many individuals have unsuccessfully utilized multiple weight-control strategies and may assign personal blame to themselves for failed attempts to sustain weight loss (Fruh et al, 2016;Malterud & Ulriksen, 2011).…”

Weight bias: Investigating the impact of an empathy-evoking intervention in reducing mental health professionals' anti-fat attitudes

“…Both the causes and consequences of obesity link to the notion of weight bias, in that individuals who are overweight or obese potentially require an increased need for various healthcare visits. However, as these patients are seen less favourably, they are not served correctly and do not receive the same level of care as normal weight patients (Fruh et al, 2016). A consequence of weight bias present in healthcare and mental healthcare settings is that the situation worsens for patients.…”

Estigma de obesidad, su impacto en las víctimas y en los Equipos de Salud: una revisión de la literatura

“…El estigma de obesidad genera comportamientos que no contribuyen al control del peso 29 , tales como el retraso o evitación en la búsqueda de prestaciones médicas 30,31 , menor motivación por realizar actividad física 32,33 o una ingesta calórica superior a la recomendada por los especialistas 19,34,35 . Además, la discriminación derivada del estigma, se ha asociado a presión arterial elevada, lo que pone en un doble riesgo a los obesos 28,36,37 .…”

“…Existe evidencia científica sobre presencia de actitudes desfavorables automáticas, esto es, fuera de control consciente hacia personas que tienen sobrepeso o son obesas, incluso entre profesionales de la salud 29 . Lo anterior alude a sesgos negativos implícitos hacia los obesos, lo cual no necesariamente implica una conducta discriminatoria manifiesta 42 .…”