Obesity simulation suits in health professions education: a scoping review.

backgroundWeight-related stigma toward people living with obesity is widespread in healthcare settings and has been documented among students and professionals across health disciplines. Such stigma may negatively affect communication, clinical decision-making, and quality of care. Educational strategies aimed at addressing weight bias and fostering empathy during the training of health professionals are therefore of growing interest. In recent years, obesity simulation suits have been introduced as experiential learning tools intended to sensitize learners to physical and psychosocial challenges associated with higher body weight.

methodsA scoping review was conducted in accordance with the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and further refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). A comprehensive search was conducted in November 2025 in CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, supplemented by citation tracking, with no restrictions on publication year or language. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened independently by two reviewers. Studies were eligible if they reported on the educational use of obesity simulation suits, including related terms such as bariatric, empathy, or fat suits, as well as weighted vests, within healthcare-related education involving adult learners. Data were charted using a standardized extraction form and synthesized descriptively.

resultsTwelve studies met the inclusion criteria out of 152 identified records. Studies were conducted across multiple countries, including the United States, Germany, and other countries, and involved learners from medicine, nursing, nutrition science, and exercise science. OSS were either worn by learners or by standardized patients. Quantitative outcomes included attitudes toward obesity, beliefs about causation, empathy, cultural humility, and implicit weight bias, assessed using validated questionnaires. Results were mixed, with some studies reporting short-term improvements in specific measures, while others found no significant changes. Qualitative findings described increased awareness of physical effort and mobility limitations, as well as emotional responses such as discomfort.

conclusionsExisting literature on obesity simulation suits in healthcare education is limited and heterogeneous. While OSS may offer opportunities for experiential learning, there is currently no consistent evidence of sustained improvements in attitudes or empathy toward people with obesity relating to OSS. Further research is needed to clarify how OSS can be integrated thoughtfully into educational programs.