Weight Bias Among Nutrition and Dietetics Students in a Ghanaian Public University.

OBJECTIVES

To measure the internal consistency reliability of 3 weight bias scales among nutrition and dietetics students enrolled at a public university in Ghana and to use the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) to determine the prevalence of weight bias and the differences in gender and body mass index.

DESIGN

Online survey gathered self-reported height, weight, and demographic data. Explicit weight bias was assessed using validated FPS, Beliefs About Obese People, and Attitudes Toward Obese Persons scales.

PARTICIPANTS

Sample of 172 students.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence of weight bias.

ANALYSIS

Cronbach α reliability test was used to measure the internal consistency of scales. The prevalence of weight bias was expressed as a percentage. Independent t tests and analysis of variance were used to explore differences in gender and weight categories.

RESULTS

The reliability scores for FPS, Beliefs About Obese People, and Attitudes Toward Obese Persons scales were 0.92, 0.51, and 0.38, respectively. About 53% of participants expressed weight bias. A significant difference was observed for weight bias between overweight and obese participants, with participants with obesity showing greater weight bias (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Fat Phobia Scale (most reliable) identified more than half of the students had a negative attitude toward obesity. Weight bias training within this population may improve attitudes toward obesity.