ERIC Number: EJ1433393
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: EISSN-1940-3208
Examining Weight Bias Attitudes and Obesity Beliefs among Undergraduate Students
Amy E. Allnutt; Daniel J. Smith; William A. Torrence; Dayna S. Alexander
Journal of American College Health, v72 n6 p1814-1819 2024
Objective: This cross-sectional study examined the weight bias attitudes and obesity beliefs of health science (HS), nursing, and pre-medicine undergraduate students. Methods: Using snowballing and convenience sampling strategies, students (N = 139) completed an online survey, including a 24-item Antifat Attitudes Scale (AFAS) and eight-item Belief About Obese Persons (BAOP) scale. Results: HS students have higher weight bias than nursing and pre-medicine students combined (M = 43.45, SD = 10.75), t(137) = -2.45, p = 0.016). A negative correlation exists between AFAS and BAOP suggesting high weight bias influences a belief that obesity is controllable. Gender positively predicted weight bias attitudes ([beta] = -11.43, t = -4.33, p < 0.001) and obesity beliefs ([beta] = 3.75, t = 3.01, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Findings confirm that HS students have weight bias attitudes. This supports undergraduate curricular changes on obesity etiology that may improve treatment plans of individuals who are obese.
Descriptors: Social Bias, Body Weight, Obesity, Beliefs, Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Nursing Students, Health Sciences, Premedical Students, Majors (Students), Gender Differences, Student Characteristics, Negative Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A