Felix Nickel1, Christian Tapking2, Laura Benner3, Svenja Schüler3, Gregor B Ottawa4, Katja Krug5, Beat P Müller-Stich2, Lars Fischer2,6. 1. Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. Felix.Nickel@med.uni-heidelberg.de. 2. Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. 3. Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. 4. Coordination Centre of Clinical Trials, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, Heidelberg, Germany. 5. Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 2, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany. 6. Hospital Mittelbaden, Balger Strasse 50, 76532, Baden-Baden, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obesity is a rising social and economic burden. Patients with obesity often suffer from stigmatization and discrimination. Underrecognition of obesity as a disease could be a contributing factor. The present study aimed to compare attitudes towards obesity with other chronic diseases and to evaluate the recognition of need of professional treatment. METHODS:Nine hundred and forty-nine participants (subgroups: general population, patients with obesity, nurses in training, nurses, medical students, physicians) were randomized to video teaching on obesity and control. Questionnaires on the burden and influence of obesity on daily life compared to other chronic diseases and the fat phobia scale (FPS) were answered. RESULTS:Burden of obesity was rated low (4.2 ± 1.3; rank 9 of 11) compared to other diseases. Bowel cancer (5.5 ± 0.9) had the highest and caries the lowest (2.7 ± 1.4) estimated impact. Females (p = 0.011) and older people (p < 0.001) rated burden of obesity high whereas general population (p < 0.001) and control (p < 0.001) rated it low. Females (p = 0.001) and people with higher BMI (p = 0.004) rated the influence of obesity on daily life high; the general population (p < 0.001; reference physicians) and the control group (p < 0.001) rated it low. FPS was lowest in patients with obesity (3.2 ± 0.7) and highest in the general population (3.6 ± 0.4) and medical students (3.6 ± 0.5; p < 0.001; compared to physicians). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is underestimated as a disease compared to other chronic diseases and attitudes towards obesity are rather negative in comparison. Video teaching showed positive effects so a focus in medical education and public campaigns should aim to improve prevention and treatment of obesity.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Obesity is a rising social and economic burden. Patients with obesity often suffer from stigmatization and discrimination. Underrecognition of obesity as a disease could be a contributing factor. The present study aimed to compare attitudes towards obesity with other chronic diseases and to evaluate the recognition of need of professional treatment. METHODS: Nine hundred and forty-nine participants (subgroups: general population, patients with obesity, nurses in training, nurses, medical students, physicians) were randomized to video teaching on obesity and control. Questionnaires on the burden and influence of obesity on daily life compared to other chronic diseases and the fat phobia scale (FPS) were answered. RESULTS: Burden of obesity was rated low (4.2 ± 1.3; rank 9 of 11) compared to other diseases. Bowel cancer (5.5 ± 0.9) had the highest and caries the lowest (2.7 ± 1.4) estimated impact. Females (p = 0.011) and older people (p < 0.001) rated burden of obesity high whereas general population (p < 0.001) and control (p < 0.001) rated it low. Females (p = 0.001) and people with higher BMI (p = 0.004) rated the influence of obesity on daily life high; the general population (p < 0.001; reference physicians) and the control group (p < 0.001) rated it low. FPS was lowest in patients with obesity (3.2 ± 0.7) and highest in the general population (3.6 ± 0.4) and medical students (3.6 ± 0.5; p < 0.001; compared to physicians). CONCLUSIONS:Obesity is underestimated as a disease compared to other chronic diseases and attitudes towards obesity are rather negative in comparison. Video teaching showed positive effects so a focus in medical education and public campaigns should aim to improve prevention and treatment of obesity.
Authors: Lars Sjöström; Markku Peltonen; Peter Jacobson; Sofie Ahlin; Johanna Andersson-Assarsson; Åsa Anveden; Claude Bouchard; Björn Carlsson; Kristjan Karason; Hans Lönroth; Ingmar Näslund; Elisabeth Sjöström; Magdalena Taube; Hans Wedel; Per-Arne Svensson; Kajsa Sjöholm; Lena M S Carlsson Journal: JAMA Date: 2014-06-11 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Christian Tapking; Laura Benner; Matthes Hackbusch; Svenja Schüler; Danny Tran; Gregor B Ottawa; Katja Krug; Beat P Müller-Stich; Lars Fischer; Felix Nickel Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2020-08-09 Impact factor: 4.129