Weight-based stereotype threat in the workplace: consequences for employees with overweight or obesity

Evaluating eating behavior traits of virtual targets: Attitudes and empathy

There are many common stereotypes related to food consumption and eating behaviors that are considered indicative of one's personal character. Negative evaluations of an individual based on their eating behaviors may lead to stigmatization and other harmful psychosocial outcomes. Using vignette scenarios, we examined 582 participants' attitudes towards two target characters who exhibited bitter food dislike and high reward-based eating drive respectively. In open-ended text responses, participants were more likely to respond negatively and use stigmatizing language when describing the character with high reward-based eating drive versus the character with bitter food dislike. In addition, empathic responses depended on whether participants believed they, themselves, exhibited reward-based eating drive. Participants tended to be more empathetic and more positive towards the target who shared their own reward-based eating behaviors. Interestingly, the same was not true for those who shared bitter food distaste. These results suggest that eating behaviors that are perceived as more controllable and unusual may be more negatively perceived. Targeted education or support to reduce negative attitudes about such traits may be beneficial.

Work ability and anthropometric indices correlate with cardiovascular risk factors in public sector employees: Cross-sectional study

Background and Aims

Understanding the correlation of work ability (WA) and anthropometric indices with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors among public sector employees (PSE) is vital for policy direction. This study examined the correlation between work ability, anthropometric indices, and cardiovascular risk factors among PSEs.

Methods

The cross-sectional study had 254 (mean age = 37.18 ± 10.34) PSE. A self-reported WA index was used to measure WA. Blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and visceral fat were measured. Lifestyle CVDs risk history was also obtained.

Results

3.9% had moderate, 51.2% good, and 44.9% excellent WA. 37.4% overweight, 20.1% obese, 19.7% hypertension history, 67.7% no physical activity history. WA correlates with increased systolic BP, BMI, WC, WHR, weight to height ratio, and visceral fat significantly. Age 24-29 (aOR = 26.38), 30-39 (aOR = 7.52), and 40-49 (aOR = 4.94) independently predict excellent WA. Overweight (aOR = 0.44) independently predict decreased excellent WA.

Conclusion

Participants were hypertension-prone, had increased WC, WHR, physically inactive, overweight, and obese. WA and anthropometric indices of the participants predict CVDs risks. Workplace health care strategy should be put in place to control BP, BMI, WC, WHR, weight to height ratio, and visceral fat as CVDs risk factors.

Reliable Knowledge about Obesity Risk, Rather Than Personality, Is Associated with Positive Beliefs towards Obese People: Investigating Attitudes and Beliefs about Obesity, and Validating the Polish Versions of ATOP, BAOP and ORK-10 Scales

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions. With the increase in the number of obese people, we have also witnessed a rise in the stigmatisation of this population. The aim of our study was to: (I) validate Polish versions of the attitude toward obese people (ATOP) scale, the beliefs about obese persons (BAOP) scale, and translate the obesity risk knowledge scale (ORK-10); (II) analyse the relationship between personality and the knowledge about obesity, as well as attitudes and beliefs towards obese people.

METHODS

The translation procedure was based on the principles of intercultural validation scales. The study was conducted on a group of 306 individuals, including 189 females and 117 males.

RESULTS

The original three-factor structure of the ATOP scale was confirmed in the Polish version. Factor analysis confirmed the one-factor structure of the BAOP scale in the Polish version. A very strong correlation was found between ATOP/BAOP and ORK-10. The correlation of personality with ATOP/BAOP scales was at a low level. Regression analysis indicated that knowledge of obesity risk predicted ATOP and BAOP by more than 58% and 50%, in turn, personality only 20% and 3.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The polish versions of ATOP, BAOP and ORK-10 scales are fully useful measurement tools. The knowledge about obesity risk is associated with beliefs and attitudes about obese people.