Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obesity prevention and treatment will be the responsibility of current allied healthcare professional students in the future. To manage this effectively, students must learn to empathize with overweight and obese individuals. This study aimed to identify predictors of weight bias among allied healthcare professional students at Philadelphia University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey (n = 169) was conducted among undergraduate students in nutrition, nursing, pharmacology, and physiotherapy to assess weight bias using the Fat Phobia Scale. The Eating Competence Satter Inventory 2.0 was used to measure eating competence, and the Stunkard's Figure Rating scale was used to assess body dissatisfaction. Additional variables included individual experiences with obesity, media exposure to health and nutrition information, and demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation and the Chi-square test. RESULTS: The results showed that 37.28% of participants exhibited weight bias, 64.5% were dissatisfied with their body image, and 65.68% were not competent eaters. Body image, having a friend with obesity, and gender were significantly associated with fat phobia (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that weight bias is a prevalent issue among students enrolled in health-related programs. This concern should be addressed appropriately in light of their future roles in clinical and community settings.