The Effect of Person-First Language on Obesity Stigma.

Purpose: To test the assumption that person-first language (PFL) reduces obesity stigma, mediated by perceived personal responsibility for obesity.

Design: Cross-sectional, experimental.

Setting: Online, United States.

Participants: 299 young adults.

Measures: Participants read a vignette using PFL or identity-first language (IFL) or about someone without obesity. Participants reported perceived personal responsibility for obesity, and 3 operationalizations of obesity stigma: prejudice, stereotypes, and support for punitive policies. Mediation analyses were used to test if the manipulation affected obesity stigma, through perceived personal responsibility.

Results: There was no indirect effect of PFL vs IFL on the 3 outcomes (95% CIs contained zero). However, the indirect effects of PFL vs no-obesity condition were significant (prejudice: β = -0.10, SE = 0.05, 95% CI [-0.22, -0.01]; stereotypes: (β = 0.07, SE = 0.03, 95% CI [0.01, 0.14]); punitive punishment: (β = -0.06, SE = 0.04, 95% CI [-0.15, -0.01]). Also, the indirect effects of IFL vs no-obesity condition on stereotypes (β = 0.07, SE = 0.04, 95% CI [0.0003, 0.15]) and punitive punishment (β = -0.06, SE = 0.04, 95% CI [-0.15, -0.0002]) were significant.

Conclusion: PFL may not affect obesity stigma as it does in the context of other marginalized groups. The effect of PFL and IFL, compared to the no-obesity condition, suggests future routes for intervention.