Anja Hilbert1, Markus Zenger1,2, Claudia Luck-Sikorski3, Elmar Brähler1,4. 1. Behavioral Medicine Research Unit, Integrated Research and Treatment Center AdiposityDiseases, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany. 2. Faculty of Applied Human Studies, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg and Stendal, Stendal, Germany. 3. Research Group COPE, SRH University of Applied Health Sciences, Gera, Germany. 4. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Recent years have witnessed a medicalization of obesity, promoting a classification as a disease or disability in order to reduce or protect against weight stigma and discrimination. This study sought to investigate the public understanding of the disability and disease concepts in obesity, their acceptance, and association with weight stigma. METHODS: In a representative German population sample (n = 2,524), public views of obesity as a disease or disability were assessed via a self-report questionnaire. For the assessment of weight stigma, the Weight Control/Blame subscale from the Antifat Attitudes Test was used. RESULTS: A significantly greater acceptance of the disease than the disability concept was found (37.1 vs. 15.4%). Both disease and disability were mainly viewed as physical conditions, although one-third also viewed obesity as a mental disease. While agreement with the disease concept - especially of physical and genetic disease - significantly predicted lower weight stigma; agreement with the disability concept - especially of mental or intellectual disability - predicted higher weight stigma. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a careful use of the disease and disability terms and precise definitions. The disability concept in particular carries notions that are publicly devalued.
INTRODUCTION: Recent years have witnessed a medicalization of obesity, promoting a classification as a disease or disability in order to reduce or protect against weight stigma and discrimination. This study sought to investigate the public understanding of the disability and disease concepts in obesity, their acceptance, and association with weight stigma. METHODS: In a representative German population sample (n = 2,524), public views of obesity as a disease or disability were assessed via a self-report questionnaire. For the assessment of weight stigma, the Weight Control/Blame subscale from the Antifat Attitudes Test was used. RESULTS: A significantly greater acceptance of the disease than the disability concept was found (37.1 vs. 15.4%). Both disease and disability were mainly viewed as physical conditions, although one-third also viewed obesity as a mental disease. While agreement with the disease concept - especially of physical and genetic disease - significantly predicted lower weight stigma; agreement with the disability concept - especially of mental or intellectual disability - predicted higher weight stigma. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a careful use of the disease and disability terms and precise definitions. The disability concept in particular carries notions that are publicly devalued.
Authors: S Vallgårda; M E J Nielsen; A K K Hansen; K Ó Cathaoir; M Hartlev; L Holm; B J Christensen; J D Jensen; T I A Sørensen; P Sandøe Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr Date: 2017-09-27 Impact factor: 4.016
Authors: G B M Mensink; A Schienkiewitz; M Haftenberger; T Lampert; T Ziese; C Scheidt-Nave Journal: Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 1.513
Authors: Antonino De Lorenzo; Santo Gratteri; Paola Gualtieri; Andrea Cammarano; Pierfrancesco Bertucci; Laura Di Renzo Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2019-05-22 Impact factor: 5.531
Authors: Karolina Hoffmann; Anna Paczkowska; Wiesław Bryl; Kinga Marzec; Jonas Raakow; Matthias Pross; Rafael Berghaus; Elżbieta Nowakowska; Krzysztof Kus; Michał Michalak Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-07-05 Impact factor: 6.706