ArticleBMJ open2019
Is an obesity simulation suit in an undergraduate medical communication class a valuable teaching tool? A cross-sectional proof of concept study.
Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Efficacy of interventions aimed at reducing explicit and implicit weight bias in healthcare students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2025Pooled it
- Exercise-based obesity simulation reduces weight bias and improves clinical decision-making in health professions students: a randomized controlled trial.BMC medical education · 2026Trial
- Obesity simulation suits in health professions education: a scoping review.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Perceived empathy and competence across psychotherapist appearance types: a quasi-experimental repeated-measures study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Clinical observations of weight stigma among nursing students: A descriptive approach.Obesity science & practice · 2024Article
- Nurses' Role in Obesity Management in Adults in Primary Healthcare Settings Worldwide: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- A scoping review to identify and organize literature trends of bias research within medical student and resident education.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- 'Student tutors go online' - Investigation of cognitive and social congruence in online student tutorials - a longitudinal study.Medical education online · 2022Article
- Online student tutorials for effective peer teaching in digital times: a longitudinal quantitative study.BMC medical education · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveWith the growing prevalence of overweight and obesity, medical students should be prepared to engage in weight management and obesity-related communications in order to prevent patients from having stigmatising experiences. In addition, medical students should have training to reduce anti-fat prejudices.
designCross-sectional proof of concept study.
settingUniversity Hospital Tuebingen, Germany.
participants246 participants (207 second-year medical students, 13 standardised patients (SPs) and 22 teachers) took part in the study. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the assessment of degree of reality of the encounter with the SP wearing an obesity simulation suit (OSS). The secondary outcome was the evaluation of students' awareness and prejudice against patients with obesity in a simulated role play. Additionally, a description of the advantages and disadvantages when using such a teaching tool is delivered.
resultsThe OSS contributed to a realistic perception of the patient group depicted in a role play according to students, teachers and SPs. OSS body mass index estimation by students, teachers and SPs correctly was over 30 kg/m
conclusionsAn OSS worn by an SP is a valuable teaching tool to raise awareness about patients with obesity. It gives a realistic picture of the encounter. Stigmatisation was low in general but was especially present in the students. Further research should include intervention studies to address this issue.
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