A study published in the Journal of Dental Education found that dental professionals report obesity-related stereotypes and bias, with 58% believing obese patients could lose weight through exercise, though most rejected claims that obese individuals lack intelligence or honesty. Researchers emphasize addressing weight bias in dental education and practice is critical for ensuring equitable oral healthcare.
- Nearly 58% of dental professionals agreed that obese people could lose weight through exercise, reflecting weight bias assumptions.
- Ninety percent disagreed that obese people are untrustworthy, and 89% rejected claims that obese individuals are less intelligent than normal-weight people.
- Dental students and residents showed higher Fat Phobia Scale scores (3.72-3.74) than staff (3.31), indicating greater weight bias among younger professionals.
- The study recommends training interventions, bias awareness programs, and unbiased communication to ensure equitable dental care for patients of all body sizes.
Similar to other healthcare fields, dental professionals appear to report obesity-related stereotypes, bias, and prejudice, according to a study published on September 29 in the Journal of Dental Education.
However, those in dentistry did not report believing that people who are plus-sized lack intelligence or are dishonest, the authors wrote.
“Given the potential consequences for both oral and systemic health, identifying and addressing weight bias should be a priority in oral healthcare education and professional practice,” wrote the study's lead author, Teresa Marshall, PhD, RDN/LDN of the University of Iowa.
From 2017 through 2020, more than 40% of adults in the U.S. had obesity, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This points to obesity as a critical, growing public health problem with wide-reaching effects on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare systems. At the same time, society’s attitudes have normalized weight bias, making it one of the last socially acceptable forms of discrimination, according to the study.
To investigate obesity-related bias, prejudice, and stereotypes among dental professionals in an academic setting, faculty, staff, graduate students/residents, and students affiliated with the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in the fall of 2024 were invited to complete a questionnaire. Tests were completed for bivariate analyses and group comparisons.
Of the 230 participants, 70% were women, 83% were white, and nearly 45% were less than 30 years old. Of the participants, about 90% disagreed with the statement “I tend to think that people who are obese are a little untrustworthy,’ the authors wrote.
Approximately 89% did not agree with this statement: “Although some obese people are surely smart, in general, I think they tend not to be quite as bright as normal weight people.” On the flip side, about 58% agreed that “People who weigh too much could lose at least some part of their weight through a little exercise,” they wrote.
The mean Fat Phobia Scale was 3.53 ± 0.56. This scale for dental students was 3.72 ± 0.49. Furthermore, residents and graduate students had scores of 3.74 ± 0.47, which was higher than those of staff (3.31 ± 0.61; p < 0.001), with no significant difference from faculty, the authors wrote.
Moreover, the study had limitations. It was conducted at one Midwestern dental college; therefore, the results may not be representative of dental providers practicing in other academic or clinical settings, they wrote.
“By fostering awareness, promoting unbiased communication, and implementing training interventions, the dental profession can take meaningful steps toward ensuring equitable care for patients of all body sizes,” Marshall and colleagues wrote.
