Prejudice against obesity among students in a faculty of health sciences: a cross-sectional study in Turkey

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine prejudice against obesity and identify key factors among students at Faculty of Health Sciences, Balikesir University, Turkey during February-June 2017. A multistage sampling method was used to enroll 768 participants, and a logistic regression model demonstrated prejudice among students against obesity was 5.04 times higher in age group of 18-20 years old [95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.42-17.01], 4.02 times if single (95% CI: 1.21-13.02), 3.74 times higher in group with medium income level (95% CI: 1.67-8.68), 3.43 higher in high income level (95% CI: 1.34-8.61), 2.25 times higher with a normal body perception (95% CI: 1.14-6.15), 5.0 times higher if spent most of life in city center (95% CI: 2.44-10.15), 2.88 times higher if spent <= 2 hours watching TV daily (95% CI: 1.34-6.27), and 2.30 times higher if being a smoker (95% CI: 1.11-4.84). It is important current and future healthcare providers receive training in empathy and interpersonal relationship skills, in particular in dealing with obese individuals.