Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in Brazil
The aim of this study was to understand how dietitians' body size influences perceived competence and warmth, based on the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). Online data were collected from 1,039 Brazilians, who were either laypeople, registered dietitians, or nutrition students. Participants rate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.813344/full |
| _version_ | 1818986866705170432 |
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| author | Giovana Santarosa Cassiano Joana Pereira Carvalho-Ferreira Nicola J. Buckland Mariana Dimitrov Ulian Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha |
| author_facet | Giovana Santarosa Cassiano Joana Pereira Carvalho-Ferreira Nicola J. Buckland Mariana Dimitrov Ulian Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha |
| author_sort | Giovana Santarosa Cassiano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to understand how dietitians' body size influences perceived competence and warmth, based on the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). Online data were collected from 1,039 Brazilians, who were either laypeople, registered dietitians, or nutrition students. Participants rated the competence and warmth dimensions of three dietitians who differed in sex, body weight, and age. Participants also indicated how likelythey would consult or recommend each dietitian for nutritional advice, and indicated their attitudes toward people with obesity (PWO) [using The Antifat Attitudes Test (AFAT)]. Laypeople attributed less competence and warmth to all profiles compared to dietitians and students (p < 0.001). Three clusters occupied the SCM warmth-by-competence space. However, the clusters were different among groups (laypeople, dietitians, and students). For lay participants, the woman without overweight, the older woman, and the older man were located in the high competence/medium warmth cluster. Meanwhile, the woman with obesity was located in the medium competence/high warmth cluster. The dietitians and students map found the woman with obesity and the older woman in a high competence and warmth cluster. In general, the woman with obesity, the man without obesity, and the older man can be classified as ambivalent stereotypes, the woman being perceived as more warm than competent and the men more competent than warm. Participants with high AFAT scores were less likely to consult or recommend to a family member a dietitian with obesity. This study contributes to identifying ambivalent stereotypes for dietitians. Dietitians with obesity can be seen as warm but less competent. Also, although less intense than laypeople, dietitians, and students exhibited weight stigma. These findings can foster important discussions about weight stigma and emphasize the need to increase population awareness about the causes of obesity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:57:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ad88abcce03442c93fc49b1a8c78670 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:57:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ad88abcce03442c93fc49b1a8c786702022-12-21T19:29:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2022-02-01910.3389/fnut.2022.813344813344Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in BrazilGiovana Santarosa Cassiano0Joana Pereira Carvalho-Ferreira1Nicola J. Buckland2Mariana Dimitrov Ulian3Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha4Multidisciplinary Food and Health Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilMultidisciplinary Food and Health Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilDepartment of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United KingdomDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilMultidisciplinary Food and Health Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilThe aim of this study was to understand how dietitians' body size influences perceived competence and warmth, based on the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). Online data were collected from 1,039 Brazilians, who were either laypeople, registered dietitians, or nutrition students. Participants rated the competence and warmth dimensions of three dietitians who differed in sex, body weight, and age. Participants also indicated how likelythey would consult or recommend each dietitian for nutritional advice, and indicated their attitudes toward people with obesity (PWO) [using The Antifat Attitudes Test (AFAT)]. Laypeople attributed less competence and warmth to all profiles compared to dietitians and students (p < 0.001). Three clusters occupied the SCM warmth-by-competence space. However, the clusters were different among groups (laypeople, dietitians, and students). For lay participants, the woman without overweight, the older woman, and the older man were located in the high competence/medium warmth cluster. Meanwhile, the woman with obesity was located in the medium competence/high warmth cluster. The dietitians and students map found the woman with obesity and the older woman in a high competence and warmth cluster. In general, the woman with obesity, the man without obesity, and the older man can be classified as ambivalent stereotypes, the woman being perceived as more warm than competent and the men more competent than warm. Participants with high AFAT scores were less likely to consult or recommend to a family member a dietitian with obesity. This study contributes to identifying ambivalent stereotypes for dietitians. Dietitians with obesity can be seen as warm but less competent. Also, although less intense than laypeople, dietitians, and students exhibited weight stigma. These findings can foster important discussions about weight stigma and emphasize the need to increase population awareness about the causes of obesity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.813344/fullobesityStereotype Content Model (SCM)antifat attitudesweight stigmaweight biascounseling |
| spellingShingle | Giovana Santarosa Cassiano Joana Pereira Carvalho-Ferreira Nicola J. Buckland Mariana Dimitrov Ulian Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in Brazil Frontiers in Nutrition obesity Stereotype Content Model (SCM) antifat attitudes weight stigma weight bias counseling |
| title | Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in Brazil |
| title_full | Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in Brazil |
| title_short | Are Dietitians With Obesity Perceived as Competent and Warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to Weight Stigma in Brazil |
| title_sort | are dietitians with obesity perceived as competent and warm applying the stereotype content model to weight stigma in brazil |
| topic | obesity Stereotype Content Model (SCM) antifat attitudes weight stigma weight bias counseling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.813344/full |
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