The Body Advocacy Movement-Health: A Pilot Randomized Trial of a Novel Intervention Targeting Weight Stigma Among Health Professional Students

Abstract

Abstract Background Weight stigma among healthcare professionals is associated with negative health impacts on patients, yet there are few effective strategies to combat weight stigma among health professional learners. The present study explores the acceptability, feasibility, and short-term impacts of Body Advocacy Movement-Health (BAM-Health), a group-based, peer-led stigma reduction intervention for health professional students that targets weight stigma across intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural levels. Methods Sixty-seven health professional students participated in BAM-Health (n = 34) or received an informational brochure about weight stigma (n = 33). Participants completed validated self-report surveys assessing internalized weight/ appearance concerns and interpersonal weight stigma prior to their assigned intervention (baseline), immediately following intervention (post-intervention), and four weeks after intervention (follow-up). Baseline to post-intervention and baseline to follow-up effect sizes on each measure were calculated. At post-intervention, participants completed feedback surveys for thematic assessment. Results Quantitative ratings and thematic analysis of feedback surveys demonstrated acceptability and feasibility of BAM-Health among health professional students. BAM-Health participation led to a large baseline to post-intervention effect on internalized weight/ appearance concerns that diminished slightly at follow-up (Cohen’s d = -0.88; d = -0.62). Receipt of the informational brochure led to a small initial decrease in internalized weight/ appearance concerns (d = -0.27); however, these changes were not sustained at follow-up (d = 0.04). BAM-Health participation resulted in reductions in interpersonal obesity stigma and anti-fatness with small effect sizes (d = -0.32; d = -0.31). The effect on obesity stigma was slightly amplified at follow-up (d = -0.43); however, decreases in anti-fatness were not sustained (d = -0.13). The brochure condition failed to demonstrate effects on anti-fatness (d = 0.13, d = 0.14) or obesity stigma (d = -0.12; d = -0.12) at either time point. Conclusions BAM-Health is a novel peer-led intervention that aims to reduce weight stigma among health professional students. BAM-Health met feasibility benchmarks and was acceptable to health professional students with positive qualitative feedback from participants. The intervention led to promising decreases in internalized and interpersonal weight stigma at post-intervention, some of which were sustained at follow-up. Further investigation of BAM-Health with a larger sample is warranted.