38 / 58
38
5. Look for common interest groups.
6. Be mindful of bias kick back.
Biases Against Obese Individuals and Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Unconscious biases about obese individuals or African Americans or Hispanics/Latinos
may be an under-recognized barrier to professionals engaging in weight management or
appropriate communications about weight with these populations. Unfortunately, these implicit
biases are very real, not uncommon, and must be addressed if counseling these patients is to
be effective.
Obesity Bias
Weight stigma in healthcare settings leads to poor quality of care for overweight patients.
108
Studies have consistently documented weight bias among health-care providers, including
negative stereotypes by physicians, nurses, medical students, dietitians, psychologists, and
tness professionals. Providers typically report views that obese patients are lazy, lacking
in self-control, undisciplined, and noncompliant with treatment,
109
and that these personality
characteristics are the central causes of obesity rather than genetic or environmental
factors.
110
Providers also report having less respect for their patients as a patient’s body mass
index (BMI) increases, believe that treatment efforts will be futile, and nd treating obesity to
be professionally unful lling.
110
A 2012 study by Sabin and associates compared implicit and
explicit attitudes about weight among a large convenience sample of the general population
(N = 359,261), and a large sub-sample of MDs (N = 2,284) who chose to take the Weight
Implicit Association Test (IAT).
105
The vast majority of the people who take the Web-based test
exhibit a strong preference for thin people and associate the fat people with negative words.
The researchers found that implicit and explicit anti-fat bias is as pervasive among MDs as it
is among most people in society.
111
In socially sensitive areas such as race, sexuality, disability, age, and culture, implicit attitudes
are often stronger than self-reported attitudes.
112
However, for weight bias, both implicit and
explicit anti-fat attitudes are very strong, with self-reported attitudes slightly stronger. Strong
explicit attitudes suggest that individuals, including medical doctors, may feel that it is socially
acceptable to express negative attitudes about overweight people.
111
STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME BIAS AGAINST OBESE INDIVIDUALS
Healthcare professionals can employ a variety of strategies to help reduce weight stigma
and improve attitudes. They can start by becoming aware of their own biases, developing
empathy, and working to address the needs and concerns of obese patients. Experts say
there are several steps health professionals can take to create a more supportive and
welcoming environment for obese patients:
51
1. Consider that patients may have had negative experiences with other
physicians or health professionals regarding their weight. Approach
patients with sensitivity.