Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Mental health has emerged as a priority provincially and nationally, and with this, there is growing awareness for the need for strategies to reduce stigma and raise awareness about mental health. Increasingly, evidence has highlighted the negative impacts of weight stigma on the psychological well-being and health outcomes of individuals when targeting weight-related disorders (ranging from eating disorders to obesity). The objectives of this research are to: (1) explore the current contexts of weight stigma in NL and, (2) develop and pilot a mental health intervention related to weight stigma for healthcare professionals in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). This study will consist of a 2-phase mixed-method multiphase design. Phase 1 will use qualitative methods to gain insight of the local context of weight stigma by conducting a document analysis of current provincial health promotion documents/strategic plans and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. The knowledge gained from the data analysis will inform the development of a weight stigma education intervention. Phase 2 will pilot the intervention and incorporate both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the effectiveness of improving weight-related attitudes and stereotypes, as well as explore participants' experiences and challenges translating the education into practice. Research is required to understand the specific skills and mode of delivery for weight stigma education interventions that can best facilitate changes in beliefs and attitudes among healthcare professionals. This research aims to contribute strategies and best practices to addressing weight-related disorders without causing unintended harm to mental or physical health.