Effects of Social bias on Healthcare communication

The effect of social bias and doctor’s perceived bodyweight on healthcare communication

Social bias permeates many parts of our lives, including healthcare. Bodyweight predicts bias and overweight people are stigmatised. As the number of overweight people increases worldwide, more people are affected by weight stigma. Weight bias has become a contemporary challenge which requires addressing urgently, because it can have serious consequences. We know that negative bias towards obese patients exists in healthcare, however there is little research regarding bodyweight stigma against healthcare providers. This project investigates whether a doctor’s size impacts how they are perceived in professional contexts and the consequences for healthcare communication.