Exercise-Based Obesity Simulation and Weight Bias

This study examines whether an exercise-based simulation can reduce weight bias and improve professional skills among health professions students. Weight stigma in healthcare settings can negatively affect patient communication, clinical decision-making, and patient engagement in health-promoting behaviors. In this randomized controlled trial, undergraduate health professions students were assigned to one of three groups: (1) a control group completing a communication module and light stretching, (2) an exercise-only group completing treadmill walking, or (3) an exercise group completing treadmill walking while wearing an obesity simulation suit designed to represent additional body weight. The simulation aimed to provide students with an experiential understanding of movement challenges associated with higher body weight. Participants completed assessments at baseline, one week, and eight weeks after the intervention. Outcomes included measures of implicit and explicit weight bias, empathy, clinical decision-making using patient scenarios, professional behavioral intentions, and reflective learning. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a brief experiential intervention can reduce weight bias and improve competencies related to patient-centered and weight-inclusive care in health professions education.

NCT Number	NCT07430891
Lead Sponsor	University of Wisconsin, River Falls
Conditions	Weight Bias, Health Professions Education, Implicit Bias
Enrollment	107 participants
Start Date	2024-02-01
Primary Completion	2026-02-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-02-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-02-27