Spotting Weight-biased Research

How does weight stigma and bias enter the research process? Critique studies whose findings might have been affected by weight stigma. By Margit Berman, PhD

This recorded presentation for paid subscribers asks how weight stigma and bias enter the research process. By identifying common sources of weight bias in the research process, you can learn how to critique studies whose findings might have been affected by weight stigma.

Spotting Weight-Biased Research

Margit I. Berman, Ph.D., LP, is currently Associate Professor and Program Director of the Clinical Psychology PsyD Program at Augsburg University, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She is the author of A Clinician’s Guide to Acceptance-Based Approaches for Weight Concerns: The Accept Yourself! Framework and A Workbook of Acceptance-Based Approaches for Weight Concerns: The Accept Yourself! Framework.

Disclosure and Mitigation of Relevant Conflicts of Interest: All identified relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated. No CPEs are provided for this program

Learning Question: How do weight stigma and bias enter the research process? 

Description: Learn to critique studies whose findings might have been affected by weight stigma, by identifying common sources of weight bias in the research process.

3-4 Key Takeaways:

• Understand two common sources of weight bias at the theoretical research design phases of research.

• Understand two common sources of weight bias at the interpretation, publishing, and dissemination phase of research.

• Critically review published research for potential weight bias.

Consider the following HAES reflections prior to watching this presentation.

1. What examples of weight-biased research have you found in the media or in scholarly sources?

2. The Energy Balance Hypothesis is the theoretical underpinning for most research on fat bodies. How do you think our understanding would be different if the Endocrinological Hypothesis had survived, and most researchers thought fatness was caused by hormonal or biological processes beyond our personal control?