Year

2026

Season

Summer

Paper Type

Doctoral Dissertation

College

Brooks College of Health

Degree Name

Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN)

Department

Nutrition & Dietetics

Committee Chairperson

J. Lauren Butler, PhD, RDN

Second Advisor

Jenifer Ross, DCN, RD, LD/N, FAND

Third Advisor

Kassie Terrell, PhD, LMHC, NCC, CCIS-II

Fourth Advisor

Michelle DeDeo, PhD

Department Chair

J. Lauren Butler, PhD, RDN

College Dean

Dr. Mei Zhao

Abstract

Weight stigma, weight bias, sizeism, and fatphobia refer to discrimination or negative beliefs and attitudes towards individuals living in a larger body.1,2,3 Evidence from healthcare research demonstrates that weight stigma and bias are prevalent across clinical and educational environments.2,3 This includes nutrition and dietetics education, which may contribute to inequitable and non-inclusive practices.2,3 As nutrition and dietetics education is a healthcare discipline inextricably linked to discussions of body size and weight, careful examination of how these forms of prejudice appear among nutrition educators and in training environments is necessary.

This study aligns with the conceptual model used in Normative Does Not Mean Inclusive.3 Boggs et al3 examined fatphobia and sizeism in counselor education, whereas this study will apply the conceptual model in nutrition and dietetics. Fatphobia, a cultural aversion to fatness, validates discriminatory views on body size.5 In this study, fatphobia is used to describe macro-level norms that form educational expectations and professional identity development. Weight stigma and sizeism describe interpersonal and institutional procedures in which negative behaviors towards persons of larger body sizes are sanctioned.6 Sizeism reflects a system of oppression that favors thin bodies while discriminating against larger ones.7-10 Sizeism leads to unjust health, educational, and social results.7-10

Academic institutions play a critical role in teaching and challenging these norms. As caretakers of the curriculum content, dietetic educators influence the beliefs, behaviors, and knowledge of future dietitians.11-13 Despite an increase in the support to use weight-inclusive methods, results show that bias and sizeism continue in dietetics education programs established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).14-17 These dietetic programs enforce accreditation standards, address curricular gaps, and reflect institutional culture.14-17

 

 

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