C5
Whats in a word? Implications of response to weight status terminology for effective health promotion
Annie Anderson1, Cindy Gray2, Karen Lorimer3, Michaela Benzeval3, Kate Hunt3, Sally Wyke2
1Centre for Public Nutrition Research, University of Dundee, UK, 2Alliance for Self Care Research, University of Stirling, UK, 3MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, UK
Background
Maintaining a healthy weight throughout life is thought to play a major role in cancer prevention. However, despite the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, many people remain unaware of the link between excess body fat and cancer, and do not realise that the terms overweight and obese apply to them. Raising awareness of the increased risk of cancer may play a part in motivating people to initiate weight-related lifestyle changes and thereby decrease their risk profile. Despite the importance of individuals being aware of their own weight category and personal risk of ill-health, the response to being informed about weight status and the terminology used to communicate this is poorly understood. Our aim is to investigate peoples response to weight status terminology in order to inform health promotion strategies about obesity action.
Method
Forty eight in-depth interviews with men and women (aged 35 years and 55 years) recruited from the longitudinal West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study, from which they had recently learned their BMI (Body Mass Index) and body fat composition via a feedback letter.
Results
Although most people found the term overweight acceptable, few BMI-overweight or BMI-obese respondents had found it motivational to lose weight. The term obese was considered derogatory and upsetting, and the majority of respondents would be unhappy if it was used towards them. Nevertheless it was recognised by some people that the negative nature of obese could aid the effective delivery of health information and motivate people to lose weight.
Conclusion
Health professionals should be aware of the potentially negative response to the term obese and exercise sensitivity in their use of weight status terminology to ensure that people are fully aware of their weight status and personal disease risk but remain engaged with advice aimed at motivating lifestyle change.
