Dietitians and Nutritionists: Stigma in the Context of Obesity. A Systematic Review

Franziska U C E Jung; Claudia Luck-Sikorski; Nina Wiemers; Steffi G Riedel-Heller

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140276

Dietitians and Nutritionists: Stigma in the Context of Obesity. A Systematic Review

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 14;10(10):e0140276. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140276. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Franziska U C E Jung¹, Claudia Luck-Sikorski¹, Nina Wiemers², Steffi G Riedel-Heller²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig, Germany.
² Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Abstract

Aim: Negative attitudes towards people with obesity are common even in health care settings. So far, the attitudes and causal beliefs of dietitians and nutritionists have not been investigated systematically. The aim of this article was to review the current state of quantitative research on weight-related stigma by dietitians and nutritionists.

Method: A systematic literature review was conducted in 2014 using PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane Library.

Results: Eight studies were found that differ in regard to study characteristics, instruments and the origin of the sample. Six out of eight studies reported weight stigma expressed by dietitians and nutritionists. Their believed causes of obesity indicated a defined preference for internal factors rather than genetics or biology.

Discussion: Results of studies were not homogenous. The degree of negative attitudes by dietitians and nutritionists towards people with obesity appeared to be slightly less pronounced compared to the general public and other health care professionals. Stigma and its consequences should be included into educational programs to optimally prepare dietitians and nutritionists.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health Personnel
Culture
Health Personnel*
Humans
Nutritionists*
Obesity / epidemiology*
Social Stigma*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany, FKZ: 01EO1001, and by a junior research grant by the Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig. The authors acknowledge support from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and Universität Leipzig within the program of Open Access Publishing.