Misconceptions About Obesity and Weight Stigma in Brazilian Healthcare Professionals

TL;DR

This study explores weight stigma among Brazilian healthcare professionals and finds that men and physicians tend to have higher levels of stigma, while those who attribute obesity to factors beyond personal control show less stigma.

Contribution

This is the first study to examine weight stigma and obesity-related beliefs among Brazilian healthcare professionals.

Findings

Men and physicians in Brazil show significantly higher weight stigma.

Healthcare professionals who attribute obesity to physiological or environmental factors report lower weight stigma.

Belief in biological or uncontrollable factors for weight loss is linked to reduced weight stigma.

Abstract

People living with obesity (PLWO) frequently experience weight stigma (WS) in healthcare settings, leading to disparities in treatment. Although research shows that healthcare professionals (HCPs) often hold stigmatising views, this issue remains underexplored in Brazil. The objective of this study is to examine WS and beliefs about obesity amongst Brazilian HCPs. Five hundred seven Brazilian HCPs completed a survey assessing sociodemographic data, beliefs about obesity and the Fat Phobia Scale‐Short Form (FPS‐SF) for assessing WS. Linear regression models analysed the association between these variables. HCPs who are men (p = 0.007) and physicians (p < 0.001) had significantly higher WS. Participants who attributed overeating to physiological dysfunction (p = 0.004) or the food environment (p = 0.020) reported significantly lower WS compared to those who attributed it to emotional eating. Those who attributed weight loss difficulty to genetic or metabolic factors (p < 0.001) had significantly lower WS compared to those that reported lack of motivation or self‐discipline. People who reported a belief that there are factors beyond patients' control (p = 0.001), inadequate care by HCP (p = 0.018) or biological mechanisms (p = 0.007) that prevent weight loss reported significantly lower WS compared to HCPs who believe it's the result of a lack of motivation/self‐discipline. In conclusion, higher levels of WS were observed in HCPs who are men, physicians and HCPs who attribute the causes and management of obesity to personal responsibility. These findings emphasise the need for interventions to address WS in HCPs and to improve care for PLWO.

What is already known about this subject.
○Weight stigma (WS) in healthcare settings has been widely documented, with studies indicating that healthcare professionals (HCPs) often hold stigmatising attitudes towards people living with obesity (PLWO).○These biases can negatively impact quality of care and health outcomes.○However, most research examining WS has been conducted in North America and Europe, with limited evidence from Brazil.○Given the growing awareness of WS in healthcare, understanding how these biases manifest in Brazil given the high prevalence of obesity is crucial to addressing disparities in obesity care.
What this study adds.
○This study is the first to examine WS related to obesity‐related beliefs and sociodemographic information amongst Brazilian HCPs.○This study provides insights regarding WS in Brazilian HCPs, and how it varies by sociodemographic data such as gender, age and weight status, as well as professional information and beliefs about obesity.○Our findings reveal that HCPs who are men and physicians exhibit higher levels of WS.○Additionally, those who provide care for PLWO report lower WS.○Moreover, attributing obesity to individual blame is associated with higher WS.

What is already known about this subject.
○Weight stigma (WS) in healthcare settings has been widely documented, with studies indicating that healthcare professionals (HCPs) often hold stigmatising attitudes towards people living with obesity (PLWO).○These biases can negatively impact quality of care and health outcomes.○However, most research examining WS has been conducted in North America and Europe, with limited evidence from Brazil.○Given the growing awareness of WS in healthcare, understanding how these biases manifest in Brazil given the high prevalence of obesity is crucial to addressing disparities in obesity care.

Weight stigma (WS) in healthcare settings has been widely documented, with studies indicating that healthcare professionals (HCPs) often hold stigmatising attitudes towards people living with obesity (PLWO).

These biases can negatively impact quality of care and health outcomes.

However, most research examining WS has been conducted in North America and Europe, with limited evidence from Brazil.

Given the growing awareness of WS in healthcare, understanding how these biases manifest in Brazil given the high prevalence of obesity is crucial to addressing disparities in obesity care.

What this study adds.
○This study is the first to examine WS related to obesity‐related beliefs and sociodemographic information amongst Brazilian HCPs.○This study provides insights regarding WS in Brazilian HCPs, and how it varies by sociodemographic data such as gender, age and weight status, as well as professional information and beliefs about obesity.○Our findings reveal that HCPs who are men and physicians exhibit higher levels of WS.○Additionally, those who provide care for PLWO report lower WS.○Moreover, attributing obesity to individual blame is associated with higher WS.

This study is the first to examine WS related to obesity‐related beliefs and sociodemographic information amongst Brazilian HCPs.

This study provides insights regarding WS in Brazilian HCPs, and how it varies by sociodemographic data such as gender, age and weight status, as well as professional information and beliefs about obesity.

Our findings reveal that HCPs who are men and physicians exhibit higher levels of WS.

Additionally, those who provide care for PLWO report lower WS.

Moreover, attributing obesity to individual blame is associated with higher WS.

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