Perceptions of nursing students about individuals with obesity problems: Belief, attitude, phobia

Purpose This study aimed to determine the beliefs, attitudes, and phobias of nursing students about obese individuals. Design and Method This descriptive and cross-sectional study involved 658 students from the nursing department of a Turkish university. Data collection tools were the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS), Turkish Attitudes toward the Obese Persons Scale (T-ATOP), and Turkish Beliefs about Obese Persons Scale (T-BAOP). Findings Students had moderate levels of fat phobia and attitudes towards obese individuals and they believed obesity is controlled by individuals. Practical Implications Fat phobic attitudes of nursing students should be prevented and positive beliefs and attitudes should be developed.