Researchers studied 1,635 medical students in France to understand their attitudes about weight and obesity. They found that many students hold biases about weight, particularly believing that weight is purely a matter of willpower and fearing weight gain themselves. The good news? When students listened to an educational podcast about weight bias, they became significantly less likely to hold these biased beliefs. A rotation through a nutrition department also helped slightly. This research suggests that simple educational tools during medical school can help future doctors treat patients with obesity more fairly and compassionately.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether medical students in France hold biased attitudes about weight and obesity, and whether educational tools like podcasts or nutrition training can reduce these biases.
  • Who participated: 1,635 medical students from two French universities, studied between June and September 2024. The group included both male and female students at various stages of their medical training.
  • Key finding: Medical students who listened to an educational podcast about weight bias were half as likely to express strong weight bias compared to students who didn’t listen (12% vs. 24%). The podcast was especially effective at changing students’ beliefs about whether weight is purely a matter of willpower.
  • What it means for you: If you’re training to be a doctor or work in healthcare, educational tools like podcasts can help you recognize and reduce your own weight biases. This matters because biased healthcare providers may treat patients with obesity differently, which can harm their health and wellbeing. However, this study only shows that the podcast changed beliefs—we don’t yet know if it changes how doctors actually treat patients.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers took a snapshot of medical students’ attitudes at one point in time rather than following them over years. Students completed a questionnaire called the Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire, which measures three types of weight bias: dislike of people with obesity, fear of becoming overweight, and beliefs about whether weight is controllable through willpower alone.

The researchers collected information about each student’s background (age, gender, year in school) and whether they had experienced two specific educational exposures: listening to a podcast called “Augusta’s Oath” that addresses weight bias, or completing a clinical rotation in a nutrition department. They then analyzed whether these educational experiences were associated with lower bias scores.

The study was conducted at two universities in France between June and September 2024, making it a recent snapshot of current medical education.

This research approach is important because it helps identify which educational strategies actually work to reduce bias among future doctors. By measuring specific types of bias separately (dislike, fear, and willpower beliefs), researchers can see which biases are most common and which educational tools are most effective. This information can help medical schools design better training programs to combat weight stigma in healthcare.

The study’s strengths include a large sample size (1,635 students) and use of a validated questionnaire to measure bias. However, readers should know that this is a snapshot study, so we can’t prove that the podcast caused the bias reduction—only that students who listened had lower bias. The study was conducted in France, so results may differ in other countries with different healthcare systems and cultures. Additionally, the study only measured what students said they believed, not how they would actually treat patients.

What the Results Show

Medical students showed moderate overall weight bias on a scale of 1 to 9 (average score: 2.7). When broken down into specific types of bias, students showed low levels of dislike toward people with obesity (1.9), moderate belief that weight is controllable through willpower (3.1), and notably high personal fear of gaining weight themselves (4.2).

Male students showed higher overall weight bias than female students. The most striking finding involved the educational podcast: students who listened to “Augusta’s Oath” had significantly lower willpower bias scores (2.6 vs. 3.1) and were only half as likely to express strong weight bias compared to non-listeners (12% vs. 24%). This difference was statistically significant, meaning it’s unlikely to have happened by chance.

Nutrition department rotations were also associated with slightly lower willpower bias scores (2.8 vs. 3.0), though the effect was smaller than the podcast. Importantly, neither educational tool significantly reduced students’ dislike of people with obesity or their personal fear of weight gain.

The research revealed that fear of personal weight gain is surprisingly high among medical students (average 4.2 on a 9-point scale), suggesting that many future doctors worry significantly about their own weight. This personal concern may influence how they view and treat patients with obesity. The study also found that beliefs about willpower and weight control are moderate among students, indicating that many still believe weight is primarily a matter of personal discipline rather than a complex medical condition influenced by genetics, environment, and other factors.

This study adds to growing evidence that weight bias is common among healthcare providers and medical students worldwide. Previous research has shown similar biases in doctors and nurses in other countries. What’s new here is the demonstration that a specific podcast intervention can reduce at least one type of bias (willpower beliefs) among medical students. The finding that nutrition training has a smaller effect is somewhat surprising and suggests that simply rotating through a nutrition department may not be enough—more targeted education about weight bias specifically may be needed.

This study has several important limitations. First, it’s a snapshot in time, so we can’t prove that the podcast caused the bias reduction—only that students who listened had lower bias. Students who chose to listen to the podcast may have already been less biased to begin with. Second, the study only measured what students said they believed, not how they would actually treat patients in real clinical situations. Third, the study was conducted in France, so results may not apply to medical students in other countries. Finally, the study didn’t follow students over time to see if the bias reduction lasted or if it affected their actual clinical practice.

The Bottom Line

Medical schools should consider incorporating educational podcasts about weight bias into their curriculum, as this research suggests they can reduce specific types of weight bias among students (moderate confidence). Healthcare providers should reflect on their own beliefs about weight and willpower, recognizing that weight is influenced by many factors beyond personal discipline. Patients should be aware that some healthcare providers may hold weight biases and feel empowered to seek providers who treat them with respect regardless of their weight.

Medical students and educators should care most about this research, as it provides evidence for effective bias-reduction strategies. Healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, nutritionists) should care because reducing their own biases can improve patient care. Patients with obesity should care because this research highlights an important problem and shows that change is possible. People interested in healthcare equity and reducing stigma should also find this relevant.

Based on this research, students who listened to the podcast showed reduced bias immediately after exposure. However, we don’t know how long this effect lasts or whether it translates to better patient care over time. Real changes in how doctors treat patients may take longer to develop and would require follow-up research to confirm.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your personal beliefs about weight and health weekly by rating your agreement with statements like ‘Weight is entirely controllable through willpower’ and ‘I fear gaining weight.’ Use a 1-9 scale to monitor whether your beliefs shift over time as you engage with educational content.
  • Listen to or engage with educational content about weight bias and the science of weight management. If you’re a healthcare provider, commit to learning about weight as a complex medical condition rather than a simple matter of discipline. Set a goal to complete one educational module or podcast per month focused on reducing weight stigma.
  • Over 3-6 months, periodically reassess your weight bias beliefs using the same rating scale. Track whether your personal fear of weight gain changes and whether your beliefs about willpower and weight control become more nuanced. Note any changes in how you interact with or think about people with obesity.

This research describes attitudes and beliefs among medical students in France and should not be interpreted as medical advice. The study shows associations between educational exposure and reduced bias, but does not prove that these educational tools will change how doctors treat patients or improve patient outcomes. If you have concerns about weight bias in your healthcare, consider discussing them with your provider or seeking a second opinion. This research is intended for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical consultation.