Use of person-centred language among scientific research focused on childhood obesity

Claudia Fisch; John Whelan; Sheridan Evans; Liza Ann Whitaker; Swapnil Gajjar; Lamiaa Ali; Colony Fugate; Rebecca Puhl; Micah Hartwell

doi:10.1111/ijpo.12879

Use of person-centred language among scientific research focused on childhood obesity

Claudia Fisch, John Whelan, Sheridan Evans, Liza Ann Whitaker, Swapnil Gajjar, Lamiaa Ali, Colony Fugate, Rebecca Puhl, Micah Hartwell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Stigma towards children with obesity can begin as early as 3 years old, leading to increased risk for poorer mental health outcomes and lower quality of life. This includes discriminatory language used by peers and adults, which may be compounded by use within the medical community and in published research.

Objectives: Our primary objective was to investigate adherence to person-centred language (PCL) in childhood obesity-related medical publications.

Methods: We searched PubMed for childhood obesity-related articles from 2018 through 2020, from journals frequently publishing childhood-obesity-related research. Articles were randomized and searched for a list of predetermined, stigmatizing terms.

Results: Of the sample of 300 articles, only 21.7% were adherent to PCL guidelines. The most frequent labels found were ‘obese’ appearing in 70.33% of articles and ‘overweight’ in 63.7%. Labels such as ‘chubby’, ‘large’, and ‘fat’ were less common, but still appeared in the medical literature.

Conclusions: A majority of childhood obesity-related articles did not adhere to PCL guidelines. Given the negative effects of stigma among children with obesity, it is imperative to advocate for PCL use within the medical community. Increased stringency by journal editors and publishers may be the next step in this process.

Original language	English
Article number	e12879
Journal	Pediatric Obesity
Volume	17
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12879
State	Published - May 2022

Keywords

childhood obesity
person-centred language
stigma
weight

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10.1111/ijpo.12879

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title = "Use of person-centred language among scientific research focused on childhood obesity",

abstract = "Background: Stigma towards children with obesity can begin as early as 3 years old, leading to increased risk for poorer mental health outcomes and lower quality of life. This includes discriminatory language used by peers and adults, which may be compounded by use within the medical community and in published research. Objectives: Our primary objective was to investigate adherence to person-centred language (PCL) in childhood obesity-related medical publications. Methods: We searched PubMed for childhood obesity-related articles from 2018 through 2020, from journals frequently publishing childhood-obesity-related research. Articles were randomized and searched for a list of predetermined, stigmatizing terms. Results: Of the sample of 300 articles, only 21.7% were adherent to PCL guidelines. The most frequent labels found were {\textquoteleft}obese{\textquoteright} appearing in 70.33% of articles and {\textquoteleft}overweight{\textquoteright} in 63.7%. Labels such as {\textquoteleft}chubby{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}large{\textquoteright}, and {\textquoteleft}fat{\textquoteright} were less common, but still appeared in the medical literature. Conclusions: A majority of childhood obesity-related articles did not adhere to PCL guidelines. Given the negative effects of stigma among children with obesity, it is imperative to advocate for PCL use within the medical community. Increased stringency by journal editors and publishers may be the next step in this process.",

keywords = "childhood obesity, person-centred language, stigma, weight",

author = "Claudia Fisch and John Whelan and Sheridan Evans and Whitaker, {Liza Ann} and Swapnil Gajjar and Lamiaa Ali and Colony Fugate and Rebecca Puhl and Micah Hartwell",

note = "Funding Information: Micah Hartwell reports receiving funding from the National Institutes for Justice for research unrelated to the current topic. Rebecca Puhl has received research grant funding from WW, unrelated to the current project. Claudia Fisch declares no conflicts of interest. John Whelan declares no conflicts of interest. Sheridan Evans declares no conflicts of interest. Liza‐Ann Whitaker declares no conflicts of interest. Swapnil Gajjar declares no conflicts of interest. Lamiaa Ali declares no conflicts of interest. Colony Fugate declares no conflicts of interest. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 World Obesity Federation",

year = "2022",

month = may,

doi = "10.1111/ijpo.12879",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

journal = "Pediatric Obesity",

issn = "2047-6302",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell for the International Association for the Study of Obesity",

number = "5",

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T1 - Use of person-centred language among scientific research focused on childhood obesity

AU - Fisch, Claudia

AU - Whelan, John

AU - Evans, Sheridan

AU - Whitaker, Liza Ann

AU - Gajjar, Swapnil

AU - Ali, Lamiaa

AU - Fugate, Colony

AU - Puhl, Rebecca

AU - Hartwell, Micah

N1 - Funding Information: Micah Hartwell reports receiving funding from the National Institutes for Justice for research unrelated to the current topic. Rebecca Puhl has received research grant funding from WW, unrelated to the current project. Claudia Fisch declares no conflicts of interest. John Whelan declares no conflicts of interest. Sheridan Evans declares no conflicts of interest. Liza‐Ann Whitaker declares no conflicts of interest. Swapnil Gajjar declares no conflicts of interest. Lamiaa Ali declares no conflicts of interest. Colony Fugate declares no conflicts of interest. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 World Obesity Federation

PY - 2022/5

Y1 - 2022/5

N2 - Background: Stigma towards children with obesity can begin as early as 3 years old, leading to increased risk for poorer mental health outcomes and lower quality of life. This includes discriminatory language used by peers and adults, which may be compounded by use within the medical community and in published research. Objectives: Our primary objective was to investigate adherence to person-centred language (PCL) in childhood obesity-related medical publications. Methods: We searched PubMed for childhood obesity-related articles from 2018 through 2020, from journals frequently publishing childhood-obesity-related research. Articles were randomized and searched for a list of predetermined, stigmatizing terms. Results: Of the sample of 300 articles, only 21.7% were adherent to PCL guidelines. The most frequent labels found were ‘obese’ appearing in 70.33% of articles and ‘overweight’ in 63.7%. Labels such as ‘chubby’, ‘large’, and ‘fat’ were less common, but still appeared in the medical literature. Conclusions: A majority of childhood obesity-related articles did not adhere to PCL guidelines. Given the negative effects of stigma among children with obesity, it is imperative to advocate for PCL use within the medical community. Increased stringency by journal editors and publishers may be the next step in this process.

AB - Background: Stigma towards children with obesity can begin as early as 3 years old, leading to increased risk for poorer mental health outcomes and lower quality of life. This includes discriminatory language used by peers and adults, which may be compounded by use within the medical community and in published research. Objectives: Our primary objective was to investigate adherence to person-centred language (PCL) in childhood obesity-related medical publications. Methods: We searched PubMed for childhood obesity-related articles from 2018 through 2020, from journals frequently publishing childhood-obesity-related research. Articles were randomized and searched for a list of predetermined, stigmatizing terms. Results: Of the sample of 300 articles, only 21.7% were adherent to PCL guidelines. The most frequent labels found were ‘obese’ appearing in 70.33% of articles and ‘overweight’ in 63.7%. Labels such as ‘chubby’, ‘large’, and ‘fat’ were less common, but still appeared in the medical literature. Conclusions: A majority of childhood obesity-related articles did not adhere to PCL guidelines. Given the negative effects of stigma among children with obesity, it is imperative to advocate for PCL use within the medical community. Increased stringency by journal editors and publishers may be the next step in this process.

KW - childhood obesity

KW - person-centred language

KW - stigma

KW - weight

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DO - 10.1111/ijpo.12879

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AN - SCOPUS:85121444461

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VL - 17

JO - Pediatric Obesity

JF - Pediatric Obesity

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ER -

Use of person-centred language among scientific research focused on childhood obesity

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Keywords

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