Estigma de peso, atitudes e crenças relacionadas à obesidade e práticas corporais em acadêmicos de saúde.

Abstract

Individuals with obesity frequently experience stigmatization within healthcare settings, including from the very professionals responsible for their care. By examining the perceptions and beliefs of future healthcare professionals regarding weight stigma, this research goes beyond mere academic diagnosis; it seeks to foster essential reflection on the humanization of care. This study aimed to analyze weight stigma, as well as attitudes and beliefs regarding obesity, among university students in health-related fields at the Center for Education and Health of the Federal University of Campina Grande (Cuité campus). It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach, conducted via an online questionnaire. Fifty-one students participated—out of a total of 846 enrolled—representing 6.03% of the eligible population. The instruments applied included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Beliefs About Obese Persons Scale, the Fat Phobia Scale (Short Version), the Internalized Stigma Scale, and the Body Shape Questionnaire. The results revealed a predominance of low belief in external causes of obesity (56.9%) and a high prevalence of weight stigma, with 58.82% of participants classified as having a high level. Furthermore, a significant proportion of students reported weight concerns over the past year, experiences of discrimination, and body-control behaviors. The study concludes that weight stigma exists among future healthcare professionals, highlighting the need to expand the debate and critically address this topic during academic training to promote care practices that are more ethical, empathetic, and free from prejudice.