Obesity-Related Beliefs, Concerns, and Stigmatizing Perceptions Among Adults Living With Obesity

Weight stigma represents a barrier to effective obesity management and to achieving health equity. Although most research has focused on high-income countries, data from Latin America remain scarce. This study aimed to examine perceptions, beliefs, and concerns about obesity among adults living with obesity in a middle-income country.

This subanalysis used data from a nationally representative survey investigating perceptions of obesity among 2560 adults residing in Brazil. Responses from 653 people living with obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) were included in the present analysis. Analyses were stratified by gender and obesity class.

Stigmatizing beliefs were prevalent: 27.5% of participants agreed that people living with obesity are personally responsible for their weight, with a significantly higher prevalence among men (35.5%, p < 0.001). Among those with Class II obesity, 42.8% of men and 15.0% of women endorsed this belief (p < 0.001). Leisure environments (48.2%) were the most frequently reported settings of discrimination, followed by workplaces (33.4%) and public transportation (33.1%). Healthcare settings were also cited by 11.6% of the responses. The most commonly reported sources of obesity-related information were healthcare professionals (50.3%) and those professionals active on social media (39.3%).

Stigmatizing attitudes and the attribution of personal blame toward people living with obesity are widespread in Brazil. These findings underscore the need to integrate stigma awareness into medical education, public health communication, and clinical practice. Leveraging trusted sources, including healthcare professionals and influential social media communicators, may help mitigate weight stigma.