gms | German Medical Science

Background: The lack of sufficient utilities for care and perceived and expected complications in the treatment of obese patients, might promote negative views of health care professionals on their obese patients. The health care setting has been reported to be one main source of weight stigma repeatedly, however studies investigating mechanisms and associated variables are lacking.

Method: The sample consisted of 682 health care professionals of a large German university hospital. Questionnaires on stigmatizing attitudes, perceived causes of obesity and work-related impact of obesity were handed out. Stigmatizing attitudes were assessed on the Fat Phobia Scale based on a vignette describing a female obese patient.

Results: Only 25% graded current health care of obese patients to be good or very good. 63% of all health care professionals somewhat or strongly agreed that it was often difficult to get the resources needed in order to care for obese patients. The mean FPS score indicated a moderate amount of stigmatizing attitudes (M=3.59). Access to care equipment and higher perceived difficulty in obesity care were associated with higher stigmatizing attitudes in a bivariate model. Higher age, higher BMI and ascribing personal responsibility were associated with a higher level of stigmatizing attitudes. Respondents with more work experience displayed less negative views of the obese individual.

Discussion/Conclusion: In summary, by transferring multi-factorial models on the causes of obesity, stigmatizing attitudes might be reduced. It also seems a central issue that health care professionals have access to adequate equipment in order to provide optimal care for obese individuals.