Implicit weight bias exists among veterinary professionals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Psychology
• Social Science

Background:

• Weight stigma and implicit weight bias are significant societal issues.
• Understanding these biases within the veterinary field is essential for effective client communication and animal care.
• Previous research has not extensively explored weight bias among veterinary professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate implicit weight bias and weight stigma by association in veterinary professionals.
• To assess how perceptions of pet owners differ based on the owner's and pet's weight status.
• To explore potential species-specific differences in these biases.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was administered to 138 veterinary professionals.
• Participants viewed scenarios with varying client and pet weights and rated caregiver capacity.
• The validated Implicit Association Test for weight was used to measure unconscious bias.

Main Results:

• Veterinary professionals rated owners of overweight dogs as less effective caregivers (OR, 0.29).
• Owners of overweight cats were perceived as more caring (OR, 2.89).
• 90.6% of participants showed an unconscious preference for lean individuals over overweight individuals.

Conclusions:

• Veterinary professionals' perceptions of pet owners vary by species, suggesting potential implicit weight bias.
• These findings highlight the need for further research into weight bias within the veterinary profession.
• Awareness of potential implicit weight bias is recommended for veterinary professionals interacting with owners of overweight or obese pets.