Weight Bias among Health Professionals Specializing in Obesity
Abstract
Purpose To determine the level of anti-fat bias in health professionals specializing in obesity and identify personal characteristics that correlate with both implicit and explicit bias. Research methods and procedures The Implicit Associations Test (IAT) and a self-report questionnaire assessing explicit attitudes, personal experiences with obesity, and demographic characteristics was administered to clinicians and researchers attending the opening session of an international obesity conference (N = 389). The IAT was used to assess overall implicit weight bias (associating "obese people" and "thin people" with "good" vs. "bad") and three ranges of stereotypes: lazy-motivated, smart-stupid, and valuable-worthless. The questionnaire assessed explicit bias on the same dimensions, along with personal and professional experiences with obesity. Results Health professionals exhibited a significant pro-thin, anti-fat implicit bias on the IAT. In addition, the subjects significantly endorsed the implicit stereotypes of lazy, stupid, and worthless using the IAT. Level of bias was associated with several personal characteristics. Characteristics significantly predictive of lower levels of implicit anti-fat bias include being male, older, having a positive emotional outlook on life, weighing more, having friends who are obese, and indicating an understanding of the experience of obesity. Discussion Even professionals whose careers emphasize research or the clinical management of obesity…
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Four studies included participants who were not trained physicians or nurses and failed to report separate results for these categories of participants.
“Four studies included participants who were not trained physicians or nurses and failed to report separate results for these categories of participants [42, 44, 49, 50].”
From Implicit bias in healthcare professionals: a systematic review (2017) · cites this paper as [50]
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- Authors
- Schwartz, M. B., Chambliss, H. O., Brownell, K. D., Blair, S. N., & Billington, C.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Cooper Institute (US)
- Minneapolis VA Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schwartz, Marlene B.
- Venue
- Obesity Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-09
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1033-1039
- ISSN
- 1071-7323 (ISSN-L)
- 1550-8528
- OpenAlex
- W2170661906
- Cited by
- 884
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 71 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 60 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 49
- FWCI
- 65.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Obesity Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- weight bias, anti-fat bias, weight stigma, implicit bias, explicit attitudes, healthcare workers, stereotypes, Implicit Association Test, personal characteristics
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Attitude of Health Personnel, Body Weight, Female, Health Personnel, Humans, Male, Obesity, Prejudice, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Factors, Stereotyping, Body Mass Index
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