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Mapping changes in the obesity stigma discourse through Obesity Canada: a content analysis
Sara Fl Kirk1,2, Mary Forhan3, Joshua Yusuf1,2
1Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, PO Box 150000, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Canada.
AIMS Public Health
|January 24, 2022
Summary
Obesity Canada’s shift to person-first language and focus on weight bias has successfully reduced disease-first terminology in conference abstracts. This change reflects a growing awareness of obesity stigma in scientific communication.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Communication
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- Stigmatization of individuals with obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Obesity Canada implemented person-first language in 2015 and required it for conference abstracts from 2017.
- The impact of this language policy shift on scientific discourse was previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze content changes in abstracts presented at Obesity Canada conferences from 2008-2019.
- To assess the evolution of constructs related to weight bias and obesity stigma over time.
- To determine the effect of Obesity Canada's person-first language initiative.
Main Methods:
- Content analysis of 1437 abstracts from Obesity Canada conferences (2008-2019).
- Examined five key constructs: person-first vs. disease-first language, lived experience, weight bias/stigma, framing, and obesity as a risk factor vs. disease.
- Linear regression used to analyze frequency and ratio changes of these constructs over time.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between the use of person-first language and time.
- Conversely, disease-first terminology significantly decreased over the study period.
- Mentions of weight bias showed a significant positive correlation with time, indicating increased attention.
Conclusions:
- The adoption of person-first language and increased focus on weight bias are evident in abstracts.
- Disease-first terminology has declined in scientific communication within this context.
- These changes correlate with Obesity Canada's policy implementation, particularly after 2015 and 2017.
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