Medical students' attitudes toward the obese and the morbidly obese

One hundred third year medical students completed a questionnaire which elicited their reactions to obesity, including morbid obesity. The students' reactions toward the moderately obese were neutral or negative; while their reactions to the morbidly obese were almost uniformly negative. This is in contrast to their reactions to persons of average weight, which were neutral or positive. The negative prejudices expressed toward the morbidly obese extended beyond characteristics attributed to weight. Their negative feelings towards the obese did not change after direct contact with morbidly obese patients. Further research is needed to assess how prejudicial views toward obese people affect their medical care.