Misconceptions about obesity and weight stigma in Brazilian healthcare professionals

People living with obesity (PLWO) frequently experience weight stigma (WS) in healthcare settings, leading to disparities in treatment. Although research shows that healthcare professionals (HCPs) often hold stigmatising views, this issue remains underexplored in Brazil. The objective of this study is to examine WS and beliefs about obesity amongst Brazilian HCPs. Five hundred seven Brazilian HCPs completed a survey assessing sociodemographic data, beliefs about obesity and the Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form (FPS-SF) for assessing WS. Linear regression models analysed the association between these variables. HCPs who are men (p = 0.007) and physicians (p < 0.001) had significantly higher WS. Participants who attributed overeating to physiological dysfunction (p = 0.004) or the food environment (p = 0.020) reported significantly lower WS compared to those who attributed it to emotional eating. Those who attributed weight loss difficulty to genetic or metabolic factors (p < 0.001) had significantly lower WS compared to those that reported lack of motivation or self-discipline. People who reported a belief that there are factors beyond patients' control (p = 0.001), inadequate care by HCP (p = 0.018) or biological mechanisms (p = 0.007) that prevent weight loss reported significantly lower WS compared to HCPs who believe it's the result of a lack of motivation/self-discipline. In conclusion, higher levels of WS were observed in HCPs who are men, physicians and HCPs who attribute the causes and management of obesity to personal responsibility. These findings emphasise the need for interventions to address WS in HCPs and to improve care for PLWO