Obesity, stigma, and person‐centered language: A serial cross‐sectional analysis of scientific literature
Authors' conclusion
This investigation showed that non-PCL in reference to obesity is widely evident in weight-focused journals despite recommendations for adherence to PCL guidelines. Continued use of non-PCL in reference to obesity in research may inadvertently perpetuate weight-based stigma and health disparities in future generations.
Study context
- Population
- Obesity-related articles in PubMed across four cohorts (2004–2006; 2008–2010; 2015–2018; 2019–May 2020), examined for non-person-centered language terms per AMA Manual of Style and ICMJEarticles retained of ≈1971 screened
- Participants
- 991 participants
- Outcome
- Adherence to person-centered language (PCL) in reference to obesity
Methodological detailssystematic search of PubMed, four cohorts
- Systematic search of PubMed
- Four cohorts
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Publications adhering to PCL
Publications adhering to person-centered language (PCL)
24.02%
Most common non-PCL label "obese", in articles
75.48%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Obesity, stigma, and person‐centered language: A serial cross‐sectional analysis of scientific literature. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 5 May 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →