Publications [#271136] of Kelly D. Brownell

Journal Articles

1. Brochu, PM; Pearl, RL; Puhl, RM; Brownell, KD (2014). Do media portrayals of obesity influence support for weight-related medical policy?. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 33(2), 197-200. [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/20)

   Abstract:
   

   Objective

   The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of nonstigmatizing visual portrayals of obesity on support for a discriminatory weight-based medical policy.

   Method

   Participants read an online news story about a policy to deny fertility treatment to obese women that was accompanied by a nonstigmatizing, stigmatizing, or no image of an obese couple. A balanced discussion of the policy was presented, with information both questioning the policy as discriminatory and supporting the policy because of weight-related medical complications.

   Results

   Results revealed that participants who viewed the nonstigmatizing image were less supportive of the policy to deny obese women fertility treatment and recommended the policy less strongly than participants who viewed the stigmatizing image. Furthermore, weaker perceptions of medical risk mediated the effect of the nonstigmatizing image on policy ratings.

   Conclusion

   The findings indicate that simply eliminating stigmatizing media portrayals of obesity may help reduce bias.