Physician assistant students' attitudes about obesity and obese individuals

The purpose of this study is to examine physician assistant (PA) students' attitudes about obesity and obese individuals.

Students in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at New York Institute of Technology completed the Fat Phobia Scale to assess their attitudes regarding obesity and obese individuals. Students also provided their height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI), and their sex and age. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Student's t-test with p < .05.

The mean score for the Fat Phobia Scale was 3.7 +/- 0.63, which represents an average level of fat phobia. A high level (score > or = 4.4) was noted in 13.6% of participants (n = 15) and 5.4% (n = 6) demonstrated positive or neutral attitudes towards obese people (score < or = 2.5). The mean BMI for those who scored > or = 4.4 was 23.3 kg/m2 +/- 2.9 and 22.9 kg/m2 +/- 4.0 for those who scored < or = 2.5 (p > .05). The five negative adjectives receiving the highest mean response were that obese people are slow, like food, overeat, are insecure, and have low self-esteem. The five negative adjectives with the greatest number of responses indicating participants agreed or strongly agreed with that adjective are that obese people like food, overeat, are slow and inactive, and have no endurance.

This study documents a bias within our student population that is similar to that seen in nurses, physicians, and dietitians and likely exists in other PA programs as well. As educators, we need to attempt to modify our students' negative attitudes before they become practicing clinicians.