Environmental Scan of Weight Bias Exposure in Primary Health Care Training Programs

Negative attitudes and beliefs about individuals with obesity (also known as weight bias) have negative consequences for physical and mental health for individuals with obesity and impact the quality of care provided by health professionals. A preliminary environmental scan of college and university training programs was conducted consisting of 67 degree and diploma granting programs from 22 institutions in Alberta, targeting programs training future health professionals. Publicly available online course descriptions were examined for weight-related keywords. Keyword frequency was used to determine the extent that coursework addressed weight-related issues. The results suggested that courses are structured to include learning about general health promotion as well as lifestyle factors that may contribute to obesity but may not systematically include learning about weight bias or its potential impact. Our findings highlight the need for further in-depth investigations as well as the need to enhance current curricula in higher education by including information related to weight, obesity and weight bias. Les attitudes et les croyances negatives concernant les personnes obeses (egalement connues comme partialite contre les obeses) ont des consequences negatives sur la sante physique et mentale des personnes obeses et affectent la qualite des soins qui leur sont prodigues par les professionnels de la sante. Nous avons mene une etude environnementale preliminaire des programmes de formation universitaires et collegiaux qui a porte sur 67 programmes menant a un certificat ou a un diplome dans 22 etablissements d’Alberta, et nous avons principalement vise les programmes de formation de futurs professionnels de la sante. Les descriptions de cours en ligne accessibles au grand public ont ete examinees et les mots cles faisant reference aux problemes de poids ont ete identifies. Les resultats suggerent que les cours sont structures de maniere a inclure l’apprentissage de la promotion de la sante en general ainsi que les facteurs relatifs au style de vie qui peuvent contribuer a l’obesite mais ils n’incluent pas l’apprentissage systematique de la partialite contre les obeses ou ses effets potentiels. Nos resultats illustrent le besoin de mener des enquetes approfondies ainsi que celui de renforcer les programmes de cours actuels en enseignement superieur pour y inclure des informations relatives au poids, a l’obesite et a la partialite contre les obeses.