Examining how framing obesity as disease vs. food addiction influences stigma among fitness practitioners - 19/10/22
, Roeline G. Kuijer a, Kumar Yogeeswaran aAbstract |
Objective |
To determine if framing the etiology of obesity as a disease, food addiction, or caloric imbalance would increase or decrease anti-fat attitudes (AFA) and challenge the belief that obesity is caused by a lack of personal responsibility or willpower.
Methods |
Two hundred and forty-nine fitness practitioners (M age = 37.49 years) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions and asked to read a short article describing obesity as either: (a) food addiction, (b) disease, or (c) caloric imbalance, while a control group read an unrelated article. All practitioners then completed a measure of AFA.
Results |
Practitioners in the food addiction condition recorded significantly lower AFA than practitioners in the disease condition, specifically on the subscale relating to the belief that obesity is a matter of personal responsibility and willpower, or lack thereof. The differing etiologies of obesity had no impact on fitness practitioners’ dislike for people with obesity or their personal fears about gaining weight
Conclusion |
Presenting the etiology of obesity as a food addiction may be more effective than the disease or caloric imbalance etiologies at reducing obesity stigma relating to the belief that obesity results from a lack of willpower. Such an understanding can help reduce obesity stigma and may encourage governments to implement obesity reduction policies as recommended by organisations such as the WHO.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Highlights |
● | Obesity stigma is often driven by a belief that obesity is caused by a lack of willpower. |
● | Some argue that obesity must be recognised as a disease to reduce stigma and encourage governments to reduce the availability of obesogenic agents. |
● | Framing obesity as a food addiction rather than a disease or caloric imbalance was more effective at reducing stigma. |
● | These findings were established amongst practitioners whose roles involve helping people with obesity. |
● | Educating practitioners about the food addiction etiology may help to reduce stigma and improve patient care. |
Keywords : Stigma, Food addiction, Disease, Obesity etiology
Plan
Vol 16 - N° 5
P. 429-433 - septembre 2022 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
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