Lang Hongmei, Zhang Xingping, Yan Na, Du Juan, Jiang Xiaoyan
Department of General Medicine, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610021, People's Republic of China.
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400014, People's Republic of China.
J Multidiscip Healthc. 2025 Apr 7;18:1935-1946. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S499828. eCollection 2025.
Obesity stigmatization, defined as the social devaluation and denigration of individuals because of their excess weight, represents a significant barrier to effective healthcare delivery. This study aimed to investigate healthcare professionals' knowledge about obesity-related health impacts, attitudes regarding weight bias (negative or discriminatory attitudes toward individuals with obesity), and beliefs about the causes and nature of obesity.
This cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals between Jan, 2024 and Feb, 2024 in The Department of General Medicine, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, using a self-designed questionnaire.
A total of 388 valid questionnaires [303 (78.09%) female and a mean age of 37.71 ± 8.46 years] were included. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and belief were 6.70 ± 1.46 (possible range: 0-10), 38.41 ± 5.09 (possible range: 8-48), and 63.53 ± 15.35 (possible range: 0-120), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that having body mass index ≥ 24.0 kg/m² (OR = 0.537, 95% CI: 0.331-0.873, P = 0.012) and nurse profession (OR = 0.546, 95% CI: 0.338-0.883, P = 0.014) were independently associated with knowledge. Knowledge (OR = 0.754, 95% CI: 0.600-0.949, P = 0.016), belief (OR = 0.915, 95% CI: 0.854-0.980, P = 0.011), and age (OR = 0.950, 95% CI: 0.906-0.995, P = 0.031) were independently associated with attitude. Moreover, structural equation modeling showed that knowledge had a significant direct effect on both belief (β = 0.845, P < 0.001) and attitude (β = -0.944, P < 0.001), as well as belief on attitude (β = -0.550, P < 0.001).
Healthcare professionals exhibited insufficient knowledge, negative attitude and belief toward obesity stigmatization. A pressing necessity arises for the implementation of targeted educational interventions and awareness programs within healthcare settings.
肥胖污名化被定义为因个体体重超标而遭受的社会贬低和诋毁，是有效医疗服务提供的重大障碍。本研究旨在调查医护人员对肥胖相关健康影响的了解、对体重偏见（对肥胖个体的负面或歧视性态度）的看法以及对肥胖成因和本质的信念。
本横断面研究于2024年1月至2月在成都市第二人民医院普通内科的医护人员中进行，采用自行设计的问卷。
共纳入388份有效问卷[303名（78.09%）女性，平均年龄37.71±8.46岁]。知识、态度和信念的平均得分分别为6.70±1.46（可能范围：0 - 10）、38.41±5.09（可能范围：8 - 48）和63.53±15.35（可能范围：0 - 120）。多因素逻辑回归分析显示，体重指数≥24.0 kg/m²（OR = 0.537，95%CI：0.331 - 0.873，P = 0.012）和护士职业（OR = 0.546，95%CI：0.338 - 0.883，P = 0.014）与知识独立相关。知识（OR = 0.754，95%CI：0.600 - 0.949，P = 0.016）、信念（OR = 0.915，95%CI：0.854 - 0.980，P = 0.011）和年龄（OR = 0.950，95%CI：0.906 - 0.995，P = 0.031）与态度独立相关。此外，结构方程模型显示，知识对信念（β = 0.845，P < 0.001）和态度（β = -0.944，P < 0.001）均有显著直接影响，信念对态度也有显著影响（β = -0.550，P < 0.001）。
医护人员对肥胖污名化表现出知识不足、态度消极和信念偏差。在医疗机构中实施有针对性的教育干预和提高认识项目迫在眉睫。
