Puhl RM, Heuer CA. The stigma of obesity: a review and update. Obesity Silver Spring. 2009;17(5):941–64. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2008.636.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Puhl RM, Lessard LM. Weight stigma in youth: prevalence, consequences, and considerations for clinical practice. Curr Obes Rep. 2020;9(4):402–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-020-00408-8.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Wu YK, Berry DC. Impact of weight stigma on physiological and psychological health outcomes for overweight and obese adults: a systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2018;74(5):1030–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13511.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Hayward LE, Neang S, Ma S, Vartanian LR. Discussing weight with patients with overweight: supportive not stigmatizing conversations increase compliance intentions and health motivation. Stigma and Health. 2020;5(1):53–68.

Article  Google Scholar 

Amy NK, Aalborg A, Lyons P, Keranen L. Barriers to routine gynecological cancer screening for White and African-American obese women. Int J Obes. 2006;30(1):147–55. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803105.

CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

Puhl RM. What words should we use to talk about weight? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies examining preferences for weight-related terminology. Obes Rev. 2020;21(6):e13008. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13008.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Albury C, Strain WD, Brocq SL, Logue J, Lloyd C, Tahrani A, et al. The importance of language in engagement between health-care professionals and people living with obesity: a joint consensus statement. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8(5):447–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30102-9.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Pont SJ, Puhl R, Cook SR, Slusser W, Section On O, Obesity S. Stigma experienced by children and adolescents with obesity. Pediatrics. 2017;140(6). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-3034.

American Medical Association. Person-first language for obesity H-440.821. 2017. https://policysearch.ama-assn.org/policyfinder/detail/obesity%20and%20language?uri=%2FAMADoc%2FHOD.xml-H-440.821.xml.

Glenister K, Opie CA, Wright J. Preferred language regarding overweight and obesity in general practice: a survey of predominantly rural Australian adults. Aust J Prim Health. 2018;24(5):391–7. https://doi.org/10.1071/PY18023.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Volger S, Vetter ML, Dougherty M, Panigrahi E, Egner R, Webb V, et al. Patients preferred terms for describing their excess weight: discussing obesity in clinical practice. Obesity Silver Spring. 2012;20(1):147–50. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2011.217.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Dutton GR, Tan F, Perri MG, Stine CC, Dancer-Brown M, Goble M, et al. What words should we use when discussing excess weight? J Am Board Fam Med. 2010;23(5):606–13. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2010.05.100024.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Gray CM, Hunt K, Lorimer K, Anderson AS, Benzeval M, Wyke S. Words matter: a qualitative investigation of which weight status terms are acceptable and motivate weight loss when used by health professionals. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:513. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-513.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

• Puhl R, Peterson JL, Luedicke J. Motivating or stigmatizing? Public perceptions of weight-related language used by health providers. Int J Obes. 2013;37(4):612–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.110This study yields qualitative data that indicates which weight-based terms used by health professionals are favoured by patients. It also explores which terms may motivate weight loss.

CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

Ward SH, Gray AM, Paranjape A. African Americans’ perceptions of physician attempts to address obesity in the primary care setting. J Gen Intern Med. 2009;24(5):579–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-0922-z.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Batsis JA, Zagaria AB, Brooks E, Clark MM, Phelan S, Lopez-Jimenez F, et al. The use and meaning of the term obesity in rural older adults: a qualitative study. J Appl Gerontol. 2021;40(4):423–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464820903253.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Puhl RM, Himmelstein MS. Adolescent preferences for weight terminology used by health care providers. Pediatr Obes. 2018;13(9):533–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12275The first study to assess adolescent perceptions of weight-based language from healthcare providers. It also examined the differences in preferences by gender, weight and internalised stigma.

CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• van Maarschalkerweerd PEA, Camfferman R, Seidell JC, Halberstadt J. Children’s, parents’ and healthcare professionals’ preferences for weight-based terminology in health care. Health Commun. 2020:1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1796282This study published in 2020 provides insights into the differences between healthcare professionals’ and children’s preferences of weight-based language in the Netherlands. It is also the only study identified that includes preferred language from children.

Eneli IU, Kalogiros ID, McDonald KA, Todem D. Parental preferences on addressing weight-related issues in children. Clin Pediatr Phila. 2007;46(7):612–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922807299941.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Puhl RM, Peterson JL, Luedicke J. Parental perceptions of weight terminology that providers use with youth. Pediatrics. 2011;128(4):e786–93. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-3841Quantitative assessment of parents’ preferences for weight-based terminology used to described their child’s weight and whether they associated certain words with stigma or motivation to lose weight.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Knierim SD, Rahm AK, Haemer M, Raghunath S, Martin C, Yang A, et al. Latino parents’ perceptions of weight terminology used in pediatric weight counseling. Acad Pediatr. 2015;15(2):210–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2014.11.003.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Glenister KM, Malatzky CA, Wright J. Barriers to effective conversations regarding overweight and obesity in regional Victoria. Aust Fam Physician. 2017;46(10):769–73 This study includes both patient and general practitioner perspectives of the multiple factors that may prevent effective weight-related conversations taking place in primary care.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Malterud K, Ulriksen K. Obesity in general practice: a focus group study on patient experiences. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2010;28(4):205–10. https://doi.org/10.3109/02813432.2010.526773A focus group study indicating that patients with obesity have a desire for their clinicians to discuss weight issues with them. It also highlights a possible insufficient engagement and knowledge of services amongst general practitioners that may reduce the referral of patients for management of obesity.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Heintze C, Sonntag U, Brinck A, Huppertz M, Niewohner J, Wiesner J, et al. A qualitative study on patients’ and physicians’ visions for the future management of overweight or obesity. Fam Pract. 2012;29(1):103–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmr051.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Derksen RE, Brink-Melis WJ, Westerman MJ, Dam JJ, Seidell JC, Visscher TL. A local consensus process making use of focus groups to enhance the implementation of a national integrated health care standard on obesity care. Fam Pract. 2012;29(Suppl 1):i177–i84. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmr072.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Claridge R, Gray L, Stubbe M, Macdonald L, Tester R, Dowell AC. General practitioner opinion of weight management interventions in New Zealand. J Prim Health Care. 2014;6(3):212–20.

Article  Google Scholar 

Hansson LM, Rasmussen F, Ahlstrom GI. General practitioners’ and district nurses’ conceptions of the encounter with obese patients in primary health care. BMC Fam Pract. 2011;12:7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-12-7.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Alexander SC, Ostbye T, Pollak KI, Gradison M, Bastian LA, Brouwer RJ. Physicians’ beliefs about discussing obesity: results from focus groups. Am J Health Promot. 2007;21(6):498–500. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-21.6.498.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Jochemsen-van der Leeuw HG, van Dijk N, Wieringa-de Waard M. Attitudes towards obesity treatment in GP training practices: a focus group study. Fam Pract. 2011;28(4):422–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmq110.

CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Gunther S, Guo F, Sinfield P, Rogers S, Baker R. Barriers and enablers to managing obesity in general practice: a practical approach for use in implementation activities. Qual Prim Care. 2012;20(2):93–103.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Ashman F, Sturgiss E, Haesler E. Exploring self-efficacy in Australian general practitioners managing patient obesity: a qualitative survey study. Int J Family Med. 2016;2016:8212837. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8212837.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Nolan C, Deehan A, Wylie A, Jones R. Practice nurses and obesity: professional and practice-based factors affecting role adequacy and role legitimacy. Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2012;13(4):353–63. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1463423612000059.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

•• O’Brien KS, Puhl RM, Latner JD, Mir AS, Hunter JA. Reducing anti-fat prejudice in preservice health students: a randomized trial. Obesity Silver Spring. 2010;18(11):2138–44. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2010.79.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Kushner RF, Zeiss DM, Feinglass JM, Yelen M. An obesity educational intervention for medical students addressing weight bias and communication skills using standardized patients. BMC Med Educ. 2014;14:53. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-14-53Medical students had a change in their attitudes and beliefs towards obesity after being enrolled in an obesity educational intervention, demonstrating the utility of educational interventions for current and future health professionals.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Katz S, Feigenbaum A, Pasternak S, Vinker S. An interactive course to enhance self-efficacy of family practitioners to treat obesity. BMC Med Educ. 2005;5(1):4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-5-4.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

•• Jay M, Schlair S, Caldwell R, Kalet A, Sherman S, Gillespie C. From the patient’s perspective: the impact of training on resident physician’s obesity counseling. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(5):415–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1299-8.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Hunger JM, Tomiyama AJ. Weight labeling and obesity: a longitudinal study of girls aged 10 to 19 years. JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(6):579–80. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.122.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Puhl RM, Himmelstein MS, Armstrong SC, Kingsford E. Adolescent preferences and reactions to language about body weight. Int J Obes. 2017;41(7):1062–5. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.55.

CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

• McPherson AC, Knibbe TJ, Oake M, Swift JA, Browne N, Ball GDC, et al. Fat is really a four-letter word: exploring weight-related communication best practices in children with and without disabilities and their caregivers. Child Care Health Dev. 2018;44(4):636–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12575.

CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Stuij M, van Maarschalkerweerd PEA, Seidell JC, Halberstadt J, Dedding C. Youth perspectives on weight-related words used by healthcare professionals: a qualitative study. Child Care Health Dev. 2020;46(3):369–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12760.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

•• Yerges AL, Snethen JA, Carrel AL. Female adolescents with overweight and obesity share their perspectives on the clinical setting and weight management. Clin Obes. 2021;11(1):e12415. https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12415Interviews with female adolescents found that they wanted to be included in conversations about weight and responded positively if the clinician took an interest in their lives.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar