Abstract
Experiences of Weight Stigma in Healthcare: The Weight Stigma in Healthcare Inventory (WSHCI)
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), Vol.30(S1), pp.72-72
11/01/2022
Abstract
Background: Weight stigma can lead to discrimination and negative healthcare outcomes. Few studies examined experiences of weight stigma in healthcare. Our objective is to gather data on the nature and prevalence of weight stigma in healthcare and evaluate its association with healthcare avoidance. We also aim to elucidate which demographic groups are most likely to experience weight stigma in healthcare. Methods: To assess experiences of weight stigma, we administered our Weight Stigma in Healthcare Inventory (WSHCI) online. We assessed: 1) Overall Experiences, 2) Clinical Communication, 3) Physical Examination, and 4) the Built Environment. We also included a measure of Healthcare Avoidance. We recruited a national sample of individuals with BMI > 25 kg/m2 and age 18+, from diverse backgrounds with respect to age, race/ethnicity, rural/urban status, and gender through Qualtrics survey panels. We used regression modeling to examine the relationship between WSCHI score and Healthcare Avoidance (as continuous variables), adjusting for age, BMI, gender, race/ethnicity, rurality, income, education, health, and bariatric surgery status. Results: Of 372 respondents, 344 (92.5%) experienced weight stigma in healthcare at some point. Higher WSHCI scores were significantly associated with increased Healthcare Avoidance (b = 0.91, R2a = 0.72, p<0.0001). Additionally, younger age (b = -0.02, p<0.0001) and a history of bariatric surgery (b = 0.51, p=0.001) were significantly associated with higher WSHCI scores. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the high prevalence of weight stigma experiences in healthcare and provides evidence for the relationship between weight sigma in healthcare and healthcare avoidance. Younger individuals and those with a history of bariatric surgery were more likely to experience weight stigma in healthcare, providing targets for future interventions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Experiences of Weight Stigma in Healthcare: The Weight Stigma in Healthcare Inventory (WSHCI)
- Creators
- Kathleen RobinsonAaron SchererTaryn NishimuraHelena Laroche
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), Vol.30(S1), pp.72-72
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- ISSN
- 1930-7381
- eISSN
- 1930-739X
- Comment
- Abstracts from the 40th Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society at Obesityweek® November 1–4, 2022. POSTER ABSTRACTS. p.55-293. DOI:10.1002/oby.23626.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- General Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984363184902771
Metrics
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