Language Matters: Patients' Preferred Terms for Discussing Obesity and Disordered Eating with Health Care Providers After Bariatric Surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Patients who seek or undergo bariatric surgery are likely to experience pervasive societal biases regarding weight and eating behaviors in the health care system. This cross-sectional study examined patient preferences for desired weight- and eating-related terms for health care providers among individuals with loss-of-control eating after bariatric surgery.

Methods

A total of 114 of 140 adults who underwent bariatric surgery approximately 1.5 years prior and were in the follow-up stage of a controlled treatment trial testing behavioral treatments completed language preference measures.

Results

Of the 11 terms used to describe weight, only 2 were viewed neutrally, weight and BMI. All other terms, including obesity, were rated negatively, and many were rated

SUBMITTER: Ivezaj V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7501175 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature