Puhl R M, Himmelstein M S
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT, USA.
Pediatr Obes. 2018 Sep;13(9):533-540. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12275. Epub 2018 Mar 24.
In light of high rates of obesity and weight stigma in youth, the American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that paediatric health care professionals use appropriate, sensitive and non-stigmatizing language in communication about weight with youth. For these efforts to be effective, there is a need to identify weight-based language preferences among youth with overweight and obesity, as research in this area is scarce.
The present study provides a systematic assessment of youth perspectives of weight-based language used by providers.
Adolescents (ages 13-18 years; N = 148) enrolled in a national weight loss camp were surveyed about their preferences for words that health providers use to refer to their body weight. Adolescents completed an online survey and responded to a list of 16 words describing excess body weight, as well as questions assessing demographics, body mass index, and experienced as well as internalized weight stigma.
Adolescents assigned low ratings to words like 'fat', 'large', 'obese' and 'extremely obese', indicating that they would not want providers to use these words when discussing their body weight. In contrast, words like 'weight problem', 'BMI' and 'plus size' were rated among the most preferred words for providers to use. Word preferences varied across gender, body mass index and extent of internalized weight stigma.
These findings underscore the importance of acknowledging different word preferences among youth, and to avoid making assumptions about what words youth will feel most comfortable using in discussions about their body weight.
鉴于青少年肥胖率高且存在体重歧视现象，美国儿科学会建议儿科医疗保健专业人员在与青少年交流体重问题时使用恰当、敏感且无歧视性的语言。为使这些努力有效，有必要确定超重和肥胖青少年对基于体重的语言的偏好，因为这方面的研究很少。
本研究对青少年对医疗服务提供者使用的基于体重的语言的看法进行了系统评估。
对参加全国减肥营的青少年（13 - 18岁；N = 148）进行调查，了解他们对医疗服务提供者用来指代他们体重的词汇的偏好。青少年完成了一项在线调查，对描述超重的16个词汇列表做出回应，以及回答评估人口统计学、体重指数、经历的以及内化的体重歧视的问题。
青少年对“胖”“大”“肥胖”和“极度肥胖”等词汇的评价较低，这表明他们不希望医疗服务提供者在讨论他们的体重时使用这些词汇。相比之下，“体重问题”“BMI”和“加大码”等词汇被评为医疗服务提供者使用时最受欢迎的词汇。词汇偏好因性别、体重指数和内化的体重歧视程度而异。
这些发现强调了承认青少年之间不同词汇偏好的重要性，并且避免假设青少年在讨论他们的体重时使用哪些词汇会最自在。
