Cross-cultural and academic trajectory perspectives on obesity stigma: a comparative study across health science disciplines and training stages
Obesity-related stigma in university students.
Data will be collected through structured anonymous surveys administered via Microsoft forms. The survey will include sections on general sociodemographic information and a set of validated questionnaires designed to assess multiple dimensions, including knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, and self-perceived competencies relevant to the students’ field of study. The survey will be distributed to participants through email invitations and public announcements, ensuring wide accessibility and voluntary participation. a) Sociodemographic information will be collected from participants including age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, student status, and self-perceived body weight. These variables will be self-reported through a structured questionnaire to ensure consistency in responses. The inclusion of these measures will allow for the characterization of the sample and will facilitate the examination of potential associations between sociodemographic factors and study outcomes. b) Antifat Attitudes (AFA) Spanish validated scale: Prejudice against people with obesity will be assessed using the validated Spanish Antifat Attitudes (AFA) scale, a 13-item, 7-point Likert instrument with three subscales (dislike, fear of being fat, willpower). Subscale and overall scores will be calculated as the mean of corresponding items, with higher scores indicating stronger antifat attitudes. The scale has shown good reliability (α = 0.78–0.87). c) Beliefs About Obese Persons (BAOP) Spanish validated scale: Beliefs about obesity will be assessed using the 8-item BAOP scale, which evaluates the extent to which participants believe obesity is controllable. Items will be rated on a Likert-type scale, and mean scores will be calculated, with higher values indicating stronger beliefs that obesity is uncontrollable. d) Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M): Internalized weight bias will be assessed using the 11-item WBIS-M. Participants will rate items on 7-point Likert s
Students who have given informed consent.
Not meeting the key inclusion criteria