Abstract

The current state of global ensures physical therapists will encounter patients that are overweight/obese in all clinical settings, which makes them exceptionally positioned to promote lifestyle modifications to their patients. Unfortunately, weight stigma is highly prevalent among health care providers. Weight stigma has been shown to have adverse effects on patients. The purpose of this study is to measure weight bias in the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students. Elicit change in obesity stigma in DPT students by way of self-evaluation while enrolled in a course Aspects of Health Promotion (AHP). Methods: Sixty students enrolled in AHP course participated in a blood draw, self-evaluation assignments, and a lifestyle change assignment involving a lifestyle journaling. The Nutritional, Exercise and Weight Management (NEW) Attitudes Scale taken at three distinct times. Baseline at the beginning of fall quarter, baseline to 6 months after the AHP course, and at 12 months the following year when returning from their clinical affiliation. Correlation between NEW Attitudes Scale score and lipid profile revealed students with triglyceride levels > 150 mg/dL showed no significant improvement in their attitudes on weight stigma. In contrast, students with triglyceride levels < 150 mg/dL, showed a significant change of improved score in their attitudes and beliefs on weight stigma P = .000. Measuring HbA1c, hs-CRP, and HDL levels in students, all showed a significant change of improved score at six months. Barriers to lifestyle change identified by the DPT students ranked highest barriers to least barriers as time management (60%), motivation (28%), illness/pain (10%) and media (3%) respectively. Total cohort attitudes and beliefs showed a significant change in improved scores from baseline to 12 months, which included the AHP course and their clinical affiliation. In conclusion, healthier lipid panel, as well as hs-CRP and HbA1c correlated in improved attitudes and beliefs, barriers to lifestyle changes correlated with patients with type 2 diabetes, cancer, and senior citizens. Recommendations are to encourage a healthy lifestyle while students are in graduate work preparing to enter the health care field to lower negative bias towards the overweight and obese population.

LLU Discipline

Physical Therapy

Department

Physical Therapy

School

School of Medicine

First Advisor

Gurinder Bains

Second Advisor

Lee Berk

Third Advisor

Lida Gharibvand

Fourth Advisor

Everett Lohman

Fifth Advisor

Christine Wilson

Degree Name

Doctor of Science (DSc)

Year Degree Awarded

2019

Date (Title Page)

6-2019

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Obesity; Healthy Lifestyle; Students

Subject - Local

Weight stigma; Weight bias; Heath Care Provider; Lifestyle

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xii, 76 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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