Estigma de peso corporal em universitários da área da saúde: um estudo do tipo vinheta

Abstract

Studies show a high prevalence of body weight prejudice and discrimination, even among health professionals. However, little is known about weight stigma among undergraduate students in the health area. The present study assessed weight stigma among healthcare undergraduate students. A vignette study was carried out with 213 undergraduate students, who filled measures of: sociodemographic data, weight stigma (Antifat Attitudes Test) and one of three vignettes at random, each one with a hypothetical patient which differs only in terms of body weight (underweight, normal weight and overweight). Then, participants answered a set of 10 questions/statements about patient characteristics described in the vignette, in order to assess the effect of body weight on stigmatizing beliefs. Weight stigma was found in 39.44% of health care undergraduate students. Moreover, weight stigma was higher among men, people classified as normal weight, and Physical Therapy students. This experimental study, using vignettes, showed more negative attitudes in participants exposed to the overweight and underweight patient vignettes compared to those exposed to the normal weight patient vignette. We found negative attitudes towards general health status, quality of eating habits, level of physical activity, general quality of life, how well the patient takes care of themselves, level of self-esteem, health management, level of body satisfaction, and level of awareness with the current health status.