Researchers studied 201 medical and healthcare students in Italy and Spain to understand their attitudes toward people with obesity. They found that nearly half of these future doctors held negative views about weight, even though they’re training to help patients. The study discovered that female students, Spanish students, those who exercise regularly, and those without eating disorder histories had fewer negative attitudes. This research shows that medical schools need to teach students to treat people with obesity with respect and without judgment, going beyond just teaching about diet and exercise.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Do medical and healthcare students have negative attitudes or prejudice toward people who are overweight or obese?
  • Who participated: 201 university students (mostly women, average age 23) from healthcare programs in Italy and Spain. Most were at a healthy weight themselves.
  • Key finding: About half of the students showed low levels of weight-related prejudice, but the other half held more negative views. Female students, Spanish students, those who exercise, and those without eating disorder history had fewer negative attitudes.
  • What it means for you: If you’re overweight or obese, this suggests some future doctors may have unconscious bias against you. However, the good news is that education and personal healthy habits appear to reduce these biases, suggesting change is possible.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers took a snapshot in time of what students believed. They gave 201 healthcare students a questionnaire called the Attitude Toward Obese Persons (ATOP) test, which measures whether someone holds negative stereotypes about people with obesity. The students came from two universities—one in Italy and one in Spain—giving the researchers a diverse group to study.

The questionnaire asked students about their beliefs and feelings toward people with obesity. Researchers then looked at whether different groups of students (men vs. women, different nationalities, different fitness levels) had different attitudes. They also checked if students’ own weight, exercise habits, or history of eating disorders affected their views.

This approach allowed researchers to identify patterns and see which factors were connected to having fewer negative attitudes toward people with obesity.

This research matters because doctors and healthcare workers have a huge influence on how patients feel about themselves. If a future doctor has negative attitudes about weight, it could affect the quality of care they provide and make patients feel judged or ashamed. Understanding where these biases come from is the first step to fixing them through better medical education.

This was a pilot study, meaning it’s a smaller project designed to test ideas before doing larger research. The sample size of 201 students is reasonable for this type of study. The researchers used a validated questionnaire (the ATOP test) that has been used in other studies, which makes the results more trustworthy. However, because it’s a pilot study and only includes students from two universities in Europe, the findings may not apply to all medical students worldwide. The study shows correlation (things that go together) but not causation (one thing causing another).

What the Results Show

The main finding was that weight-related prejudice exists even among healthcare students who are training to help people. Nearly half (47.8%) of students showed low levels of stigmatizing attitudes, which sounds positive, but it also means the other half held more negative views.

The research revealed important differences between groups. Female students had significantly less weight-related prejudice than male students. Spanish students also showed less prejudice than Italian students. Students who regularly exercised had fewer negative attitudes, and students without a history of eating disorders were less likely to hold negative views about people with obesity.

Education level mattered too—students who had completed more advanced coursework showed less weight-related prejudice. This suggests that learning more about health and medicine may help reduce these biases.

The study found that students’ own body weight (BMI) didn’t significantly affect their attitudes toward others with obesity. This is interesting because it suggests that being at a healthy weight yourself doesn’t automatically make you more understanding of people who struggle with weight. The findings also showed that lifestyle factors like exercise were more important than body size in predicting attitudes.

Previous research has shown that weight-related prejudice exists in healthcare settings, and this study confirms that problem starts early—even in medical school. The finding that education and exercise are connected to less prejudice aligns with other research suggesting that knowledge and personal health habits can reduce bias. However, this study is one of the first to look specifically at healthcare students in Europe.

This was a pilot study with a relatively small sample from only two universities in Europe, so the results may not apply to all medical students worldwide. The study only measured attitudes at one point in time, so we don’t know if these attitudes change as students progress through their education. The questionnaire relies on students being honest about their beliefs, and some may have given answers they thought were ‘correct’ rather than their true feelings. The study doesn’t explain why these attitudes exist or how to best change them.

The Bottom Line

Medical schools should add training programs that teach students about weight stigma and help them develop more compassionate attitudes toward patients with obesity. This training should go beyond just teaching about diet and exercise—it should address the psychological and social aspects of living with obesity. Moderate confidence: The evidence suggests this would help, but more research is needed to test specific training methods.

Medical students, healthcare educators, and anyone training to work in healthcare should care about this research. People with obesity or who are overweight should be aware that some healthcare providers may have unconscious biases. Healthcare administrators should use this information to improve their training programs. This research is less relevant to people in non-healthcare fields, though reducing weight stigma benefits everyone.

Changes in attitudes typically take time. If medical schools implement training programs now, we might see improvements in student attitudes within one semester to one year. Longer-term changes in healthcare culture could take several years. Individual students who become aware of their biases may change their thinking more quickly.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you’re working in healthcare, track your own biases by noting moments when you catch yourself making assumptions about someone based on their weight. Record these instances weekly and reflect on where these thoughts come from.
  • Healthcare workers can use the app to set a goal of learning one new fact per week about obesity as a medical condition, helping shift thinking from judgment to understanding. Users can also track their own exercise habits, as the research suggests physical activity is connected to less weight-related prejudice.
  • Over 3-6 months, periodically reassess your attitudes using reflection prompts in the app. Track whether your language about weight has become more neutral and compassionate. Monitor whether you’re seeking out educational content about obesity as a health condition rather than a character flaw.

This research describes attitudes among healthcare students and does not provide medical advice. If you’re seeking treatment for weight-related health concerns, consult with a qualified healthcare provider. This study is a pilot project and should not be considered definitive evidence about all healthcare providers. Individual doctors and healthcare workers vary greatly in their attitudes and competence. If you experience weight-related stigma from a healthcare provider, consider seeking care from another provider or reporting your concerns to the healthcare facility.