Weight stigma from healthcare professionals: A qualitative exploration
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative exploration of weight stigma from healthcare professionals: Perspectives of patients in NHS Weight Management Services
IRAS ID
328054
Contact name
Rachael Keith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore patients' experiences of weight stigma (a form of discrimination based on a person's weight) from healthcare professionals of various specialties including Primary Care, surgeons, maternity services, and Weight Management Services themselves. It seeks to explore the impact this then has on patients’ engagement with Weight Management Services.
Previous studies suggest that weight stigma is prevalent across healthcare professionals including medical doctors, nurses, maternity, surgeons and even those specialising in weight. Research has found that this has led to individuals being less likely to seek healthcare, struggling to receive the correct care, and having non-weight related health issues attributed to weight.
Despite the detrimental impact weight stigma from healthcare professionals has been shown to have on individuals, there are few studies which have explored this from the perspectives of the individuals themselves. Those that have, have examined the patients’ overall experience, without specifically exploring weight stigma, have limited the research to a specific healthcare setting, such as primary care or maternity services, or have lacked a robust methodological framework. To the researcher’s knowledge, there is no research which specifically looks at the impact weight stigma from healthcare professionals has on engagement with Weight Management Services.
The researcher will interview patients from Weight Management Services in NHS Borders and NHS Lothian, Scotland. Participants will be asked about their experiences of weight stigma from healthcare professionals and how this has affected their ability to engage with the Weight Management Service. Interviews will be held using an online video platform, audio recorded and then typed out for the next stage of analysis. The interviews will all be analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, a method used to identify similarities and differences in people’s experiences and explore them in depth. The findings will be written up in a thesis and research article format.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0281
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion