Perception of fatphobia and pesocentrism within medical consultation

Abstract Background About 42% of adults living with overweight or obesity suffer a marked pattern of stigmatization and thanks to this discrimination the risk of death has increased up to 60%. Objectives To identify the factors that contribute to the perception of fatphobia and pesocentrism within the first level of medical care. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out. Statistical analysis was performed with X2 test and 95% confidence interval (OR/CI95%). Results 104 participants with obesity and overweight were included. The factors associated with the perception of pesocentrism were, started eating plans before the age of 10 years (3.38/1.12-10.7); being denied consultation for being a fat person (0.27/-0.16-0.46); perceiving mistreatment by the physician regarding weight (0. 2/0.13-0.3); perceiving physical harassment by the physician (0.23/0.16-0.82); perceiving discomfort on physical examination (0.44/0.23-0.82); perceiving fat-phobic behaviors by the physician (5.45/3.24-9.16). Factors associated with perceived fatphobia were, started eating plans before the age of 10 years (4.89/1.71-14.01); being denied consultation for being a fat person (0.19/-0.08-0.44); perceiving mistreatment by the physician regarding weight (0. 07/0.04-0.15); perceiving physical harassment by the physician (0.11/0.06-0.19); perceiving discomfort on physical examination (0.28/0.11-0.67); perceiving weight-centered behaviors by the physician (0.05/0.01-0.23). All with p value <0.05. Conclusions Factors such as the beginning of eating plans in childhood, refusal of consultation for being a fat person, mistreatment regarding weight, physical harassment by the physician, discomfort during physical examination are associated with and favor the perception of both fat-phobia and weight-centeredness in the medical consultation. Key messages • It is of vital importance to know more about the concepts of fatphobia and pesocentrism, in order to promote non-discrimination around them. • Fatphobia and pesocentrism are still little known issues within the medical community, the perception of them is due to discriminatory behaviors that have been normalized.