Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Obesity: A Comparative Study between Spain and Egypt - Data from the OBESTIGMA study.

IF 3.9 3区医学 Q2 ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM

Obesity Facts Pub Date : 2024-08-08 DOI:10.1159/000540635

Enric Sánchez, Noha M Elghazally, Rania M El-Sallamy, Andreea Ciudin, Ana Sánchez-Bao, Mohamed S Hashish, Hosam Barakat-Barakat, Sonsoles Gutiérrez-Medina, Nuria Valdés, Lilliam Flores, Amelia Marí-Sanchis, Fernando Goñi, Marta Sánchez, Joana Nicolau, Concepción Muñoz, Olaia Díaz-Trastoy, Guillem Cuatrecasas, Silvia Cañizares, Albert Lecube

{"title":"Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Obesity: A Comparative Study between Spain and Egypt - Data from the OBESTIGMA study.","authors":"Enric Sánchez, Noha M Elghazally, Rania M El-Sallamy, Andreea Ciudin, Ana Sánchez-Bao, Mohamed S Hashish, Hosam Barakat-Barakat, Sonsoles Gutiérrez-Medina, Nuria Valdés, Lilliam Flores, Amelia Marí-Sanchis, Fernando Goñi, Marta Sánchez, Joana Nicolau, Concepción Muñoz, Olaia Díaz-Trastoy, Guillem Cuatrecasas, Silvia Cañizares, Albert Lecube","doi":"10.1159/000540635","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: This study explores the under-investigated area of obesity-related discrimination and stigmatization across different countries, specifically comparing Spain (Europe) and Egypt (Middle East).Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study involving 2,090 participants from both countries. Participants completed three well-validated questionnaires to assess their attitudes toward obesity, experiences of weight-related stigma, and internalization of weight bias: Antifat Attitudes Scale (AFA), Stigmatizing Situations Inventory (SSI), and Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS). Participants were categorized into four groups based on body mass index (BMI) and history bariatric surgery.Results: Egyptian participants (BMI = 30.2 ± 6.7 kg/m2 [range: 18.5-69.0 kg/m2]) showed significantly higher aversion toward obesity, as indicated by higher AFA score, compared to their Spanish counterparts (BMI = 35.4 ± 10.1 kg/m2 [18.5-71.9 kg/m2]). In contrast, Spanish participants reported higher levels of weight bias internalization with increasing BMI, while in Egypt, this association was negative. The association of bariatric surgery on stigma reduction also differed between the countries. Multivariate analysis revealed that residing in Egypt was an independent risk factor for higher scores in AFA and WBIS (odds ratio 8.20 [95% confidence interval: 6.78-9.62], p < 0.001 and odds ratio (OR) 6.28 [95% CI: 4.78-7.78], p < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, Spaniards experienced more stigmatizing situations than Egyptians (OR -2.54 [95% CI: 6.78-9.62], p < 0.001).Conclusion: Our study underscores the complex and diverse nature of obesity-related attitudes across cultures. Understanding these cultural differences is crucial for developing effective, culturally sensitive strategies to tackle weight stigma. This research opens avenues for further studies and interventions tailored to cultural contexts.","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Obesity Facts","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000540635","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: This study explores the under-investigated area of obesity-related discrimination and stigmatization across different countries, specifically comparing Spain (Europe) and Egypt (Middle East).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study involving 2,090 participants from both countries. Participants completed three well-validated questionnaires to assess their attitudes toward obesity, experiences of weight-related stigma, and internalization of weight bias: Antifat Attitudes Scale (AFA), Stigmatizing Situations Inventory (SSI), and Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS). Participants were categorized into four groups based on body mass index (BMI) and history bariatric surgery.

Results: Egyptian participants (BMI = 30.2 ± 6.7 kg/m2 [range: 18.5-69.0 kg/m2]) showed significantly higher aversion toward obesity, as indicated by higher AFA score, compared to their Spanish counterparts (BMI = 35.4 ± 10.1 kg/m2 [18.5-71.9 kg/m2]). In contrast, Spanish participants reported higher levels of weight bias internalization with increasing BMI, while in Egypt, this association was negative. The association of bariatric surgery on stigma reduction also differed between the countries. Multivariate analysis revealed that residing in Egypt was an independent risk factor for higher scores in AFA and WBIS (odds ratio 8.20 [95% confidence interval: 6.78-9.62], p < 0.001 and odds ratio (OR) 6.28 [95% CI: 4.78-7.78], p < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, Spaniards experienced more stigmatizing situations than Egyptians (OR -2.54 [95% CI: 6.78-9.62], p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our study underscores the complex and diverse nature of obesity-related attitudes across cultures. Understanding these cultural differences is crucial for developing effective, culturally sensitive strategies to tackle weight stigma. This research opens avenues for further studies and interventions tailored to cultural contexts.

查看原文本刊更多论文

与肥胖有关的歧视和耻辱：西班牙与埃及的比较研究。数据来自 OBESTIGMA 研究。

内容简介本研究探讨了不同国家间与肥胖有关的歧视和侮辱这一研究不足的领域，特别是比较了西班牙（欧洲）和埃及（中东）：我们进行了一项横断面观察研究，涉及两国的 2,090 名参与者。参与者填写了三份经过严格验证的调查问卷，以评估他们对肥胖的态度、与体重相关的污名化经历以及体重偏见的内化情况：反肥胖态度量表 (AFA)、鄙视情况量表 (SSI) 和体重偏见内化量表 (WBIS)。根据体重指数和减肥手术史将参与者分为四组：埃及参与者[BMI=30.2±6.7 kg/m2（范围：18.5 至 69.0 kg/m2）]与西班牙参与者[BMI=35.4±10.1 kg/m2（18.5 至 71.9 kg/m2）]相比，对肥胖的厌恶程度明显更高，表现为 AFA 分数更高。相反，随着体重指数（BMI）的增加，西班牙受试者的体重偏差内化程度更高，而埃及受试者的体重偏差内化程度呈负相关。减肥手术对减少耻辱感的影响也因国家而异。多变量分析显示，居住在埃及是导致 AFA 和 WBIS 分数较高的独立风险因素（Odds Ratio 8.20 [95% 置信区间：6.78 至 9.62]，p<0.001；OR 6.28 [95% CI：4.78 至 7.78]，p<0.001；分别）。相比之下，西班牙人比埃及人经历了更多的鄙视情况[OR -2.54 (95% CI: 6.78 to 9.62)，p<0.001]：我们的研究强调了不同文化中与肥胖有关的态度的复杂性和多样性。了解这些文化差异对于制定有效的、具有文化敏感性的策略来解决体重成见问题至关重要。这项研究为针对不同文化背景的进一步研究和干预开辟了道路。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Obesity Facts 医学-内分泌学与代谢

CiteScore

6.80

自引率

5.60%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： ''Obesity Facts'' publishes articles covering all aspects of obesity, in particular epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, treatment, and the prevention of adiposity. As obesity is related to many disease processes, the journal is also dedicated to all topics pertaining to comorbidity and covers psychological and sociocultural aspects as well as influences of nutrition and exercise on body weight. The editors carefully select papers to present only the most recent findings in clinical practice and research. All professionals concerned with obesity issues will find this journal a most valuable update to keep them abreast of the latest scientific developments.