Weight Bias Defined by Design

Date

2023-04

Authors

Tyne, Intisar Ameen
Ochoa, Hannah
Lang, Julianne
Butler, J. Lauren

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Abstract

Recent research has shown that individuals living with overweight, or obesity often experience stigma in the form of negative attitudes and discriminatory actions aimed at them solely because of their weight. Nurses, physicians, medical students, dietitians, psychologists and even providers specializing in obesity treatment have reported negative biases towards patients living with obesity. Studies suggest that spatial planning and health care environment design and layout may contribute to weight bias, also called weight stigma or weight discrimination, among patients living with overweight or obesity. Spatial planning and health care environment design in the US is generally conducted to accommodate patients with socially acceptable body weights excluding those living with body sizes outside socially accepted norms. This interdisciplinary mixed-methods study aims to assess the extent of weight bias in the primary health care setting in Central Texas. The extent of weight bias will be evaluated through the spatial perspective, nurses’ and providers viewpoints and patients’ experiences. The results of this study will be used to provide a physical intervention guide for health care administrators to implement changes that address contributors to weight bias in their primary care settings.

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Keywords

weight bias, discrimination

Citation

Tyne, I. A., Ochoa, H., Lang, J., & Butler, J. L. (2023). Weight bias defined by design. Poster presented at the Health Scholar Showcase, Translational Health Research Center, San Marcos, Texas.

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