The obesity epidemic in the United States is increasing, and health concerns are also on the rise as they are directly related to obesity. Even though the majority of Americans are overweight or obese, prejudice and weight bias continue to be prevalent and socially accepted in a culture that tolerates discrimination towards these individuals. Health care providers, including registered dietitians, are not exempt from instigating bias towards obese patients causing a decrease in the level of care that they receive. The main purpose of this study was to compare attitudes, beliefs, and bias concerning obesity among undergraduate dietetic students, dietetic interns, and practicing registered dietitians. The data were reported directly by participants. No significant difference was found between fat phobia scores of students, interns, and dietitians. However, it was found that obesity bias decreased slightly as one moved through the dietetics profession. Also, Body Mass Index and fat phobia scores were negatively correlated.
","abstract_html":"<p>The obesity epidemic in the United States is increasing, and health concerns are also on the rise as they are directly related to obesity. Even though the majority of Americans are overweight or obese, prejudice and weight bias continue to be prevalent and socially accepted in a culture that tolerates discrimination towards these individuals. Health care providers, including registered dietitians, are not exempt from instigating bias towards obese patients causing a decrease in the level of care that they receive. The main purpose of this study was to compare attitudes, beliefs, and bias concerning obesity among undergraduate dietetic students, dietetic interns, and practicing registered dietitians. The data were reported directly by participants. No significant difference was found between fat phobia scores of students, interns, and dietitians. However, it was found that obesity bias decreased slightly as one moved through the dietetics profession. Also, Body Mass Index and fat phobia scores were negatively correlated.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Welborn, Sarah E"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MS (Master of Science)","degree_level":"Thesis - unrestricted","degree_discipline":"Clinical Nutrition","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:19:59Z","subjects":["obesity bias","weight bias","fat phobia","obesity","nutrition","Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1104","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Welborn, Sarah E"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-02-09T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2013-05-01T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Clinical Nutrition"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - unrestricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MS (Master of Science)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["obesity bias","weight bias","fat phobia","obesity","nutrition","Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition","Medicine and Health Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright by the authors."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/2261/viewcontent/WelbornS030113f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1104"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The obesity epidemic in the United States is increasing, and health concerns are also on the rise as they are directly related to obesity. Even though the majority of Americans are overweight or obese, prejudice and weight bias continue to be prevalent and socially accepted in a culture that tolerates discrimination towards these individuals. Health care providers, including registered dietitians, are not exempt from instigating bias towards obese patients causing a decrease in the level of care that they receive. The main purpose of this study was to compare attitudes, beliefs, and bias concerning obesity among undergraduate dietetic students, dietetic interns, and practicing registered dietitians. The data were reported directly by participants. No significant difference was found between fat phobia scores of students, interns, and dietitians. However, it was found that obesity bias decreased slightly as one moved through the dietetics profession. Also, Body Mass Index and fat phobia scores were negatively correlated.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Comparison of Obesity Bias, Attitudes, and Beliefs among Undergraduate Dietetic Students, Dietetic Interns, and Practicing Registered Dietitians"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Welborn, Sarah E"],"dc:date.available":["2013-02-09T08:00:00Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2013-05-01T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The obesity epidemic in the United States is increasing, and health concerns are also on the rise as they are directly related to obesity. Even though the majority of Americans are overweight or obese, prejudice and weight bias continue to be prevalent and socially accepted in a culture that tolerates discrimination towards these individuals. Health care providers, including registered dietitians, are not exempt from instigating bias towards obese patients causing a decrease in the level of care that they receive. The main purpose of this study was to compare attitudes, beliefs, and bias concerning obesity among undergraduate dietetic students, dietetic interns, and practicing registered dietitians. The data were reported directly by participants. No significant difference was found between fat phobia scores of students, interns, and dietitians. However, it was found that obesity bias decreased slightly as one moved through the dietetics profession. Also, Body Mass Index and fat phobia scores were negatively correlated.
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