Sep 5, 2026
2:00 PM12:00 PM
ePoster display
PD635
WEIGHT STIGMA AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN EL SALVADOR: A PILOT CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
K. M. Villatoro De Pleitez1,*
1San Miguel, Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social Hospital Regional, San Miguel , El Salvador
Rationale: Obesity is a chronic multifactorial disease. Weight stigma among healthcare professionals (HCPs) negatively affects patient care and outcomes. Evidence from Central America is limited. This study explored attitudes toward obesity among HCPs in El Salvador.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using QR-based recruitment. Adults working or studying in healthcare were included. Stigma was assessed using adapted domains from the Anti-Fat Attitudes (AFA), Beliefs About Obese Persons (BAOP), and a semantic differential scale. Exploratory analyses were conducted using exact tests due to small sample size.
Results: Thirty-nine participants were included. Stigmatizing attitudes were common, particularly regarding lack of self-control, indiscipline, and low motivation. Compared with other professions, nutrition professionals showed lower stigma, including ≥3 stigmatizing AFA responses (21.1% vs 75.0%, p=0.001). Participants with obesity training also showed lower stigma (36.0% vs 71.4%, p=0.048). Those recognizing obesity as a chronic disease had lower stigma than those with alternative beliefs (35.7% vs 81.8%, p=0.014).
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Conclusion: This pilot study reveals a concerning frequency of weight stigma among healthcare professionals in El Salvador. Lower stigma was observed among nutrition professionals and those with obesity training or a disease-centered understanding. Despite limitations including small sample size and potential selection bias, these findings support the need for education and stigma-awareness training to promote patient-centered, non-stigmatizing care and improve clinical outcomes. Further studies with larger and more diverse samples are warranted.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared