Comparative Perspectives on Obesity From Medical Students, Practitioners, and Non-medical Students

Objective: Obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease with a rising prevalence globally and in Pakistan. Despite this, public understanding and acceptance of obesity as a disease remain inconsistent, often contributing to stigma and delayed care. Examining how different groups perceive obesity is essential for guiding public health efforts and reducing weight-related stigma. Methods: This comparative analytical cross-sectional study included 264 participants recruited through convenience sampling between November and December 2025 from Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore Medical College and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Data were collected using a questionnaire adapted from the 33-item survey by Puhl and Liu assessing perceptions of obesity as a disease and attitudes toward its classification and treatment. Following assessment of normality, non-normally distributed variables were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, while normally distributed variables were compared using ANOVA with post hoc analysis, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: There were 264 participants in total, including medical professionals, medical students, and non-medical students. The majority were female (72.0%), aged between 18 and 24 (56.1%), and aware of body mass index (96.6%). Regarding the factors supporting the classification of obesity as a disease, there was no discernible difference between the three groups (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.436). On the other hand, the opposing elements showed a significant difference (ANOVA, p = 0.036). While no significant differences were found between the other group comparisons, post hoc analysis showed that medical practitioners had significantly lower opposing scores than non-medical students (p = 0.041). Conclusion: Medical training and clinical exposure were associated with greater recognition of obesity as a disease and lower levels of stigmatizing attitudes. These findings highlight the need for educational interventions and culturally relevant awareness programs to improve understanding of obesity and address stigma in broader populations, especially in South Asia.