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Title: Weight-Related Attitudes and Experiences of Nutrition Professionals

Author
item BOUNDS, WENDY - UNIVERSITY SO MISSISSIPPI
item ZOELLNER, JAMIE - UNIVERSITY SO MISSISSIPPI
item HOLIFIELD, A - UNIVERSITY SO MISSISSIPPI
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Journal Of The American Dietetic Association
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2007
Publication Date: 8/1/2007
Citation: Bounds, W., Zoellner, J., Holifield, A., Bogle, M.L. 2007. Weight-related attitudes and experiences of nutrition professionals [abstract]. Journal of The American Dietetic Association. 107(8):A-58.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Learners will describe the attitudes and experiences of nutrition professionals regarding professional responsibility to model an appropriate weight status and the role of personal weight-related issues in nutrition counseling interactions. The purpose of this study was to describe the attitudes and experiences of nutrition professionals regarding professional responsibility to model an appropriate weight status and the role of personal weight-related issues in nutrition counseling interactions. Surveys were mailed to a national random sample of 1000 American Dietetic Association members and were returned by 370 respondents. Statistical analyses of survey responses included descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results indicated that the majority of respondents (80%) moderately or strongly agreed that nutrition professionals have a responsibility to model a weight that is appropriate for height. On average, respondents slightly agreed that it was possible for underweight and overweight nutrition professionals to model a healthy lifestyle, while they slightly disagreed that it was possible for obese nutrition professionals to model a healthy lifestyle. Respondents rated underweight nutrition professionals as being significantly better able to model a healthy lifestyle compared with overweight and obese nutrition professionals (p<.0001). Just over half (51%) of respondents reported that they never or rarely discussed personal weight-related issues with clients, while 30% reported that they sometimes or often discussed these issues. One third (33%) of respondents indicated that they have felt uncomfortable or self-conscious about their own weight status during client interactions, and approximately two thirds (66%) of respondents have had a client comment on the nutrition professional’s weight status. Issues concerning weight-related modeling and self-disclosure in the context of nutrition counseling are relevant to both counselors and clients and require further investigation.