The case to augment healthcare professional training for the treatment of obesity by integrating cognitive dissonance interventions to reduce weight stigma.

Obesity is associated with risk for chronic health problems and increased mortality. Weight stigma, which entails negative attitudes and behaviors directed at people based solely on their body size, is psychologically harmful and contributes to obesity and obesity-related health problems. Yet, weight stigma is pervasive in society and commonly experienced by patients in healthcare settings, which lowers the quality of patients' healthcare experiences. Healthcare providers and trainees report feeling underprepared to treat obesity, which may lead to overreliance on weight-management strategies that are not evidence-based and are susceptible to weight stigma, such as fad diets emphasizing unrealistic dietary restriction. In the current manuscript, we discuss current weight stigma interventions with other populations and the rationale for integrating training in evidence-based approaches to treat obesity with weight stigma interventions, specifically cognitive dissonance-based interventions. Current learning theories emphasize empathic perspective-taking, and current methods to reduce weight stigma use social-cognitive theories to raise awareness of stereotypes. However, current methods are insufficient because they create discomfort but fail to alter internalized bias nor advise providers on how to deliver non-stigmatizing, evidence-based obesity interventions. Cognitive dissonance theory posits that resolving tension between beliefs and behaviors will change future behaviors. Cognitive dissonance-based interventions have effectively reduced personal weight stigma and are promising to be similarly effective in reducing weight stigma among healthcare providers. In this manuscript, we highlight how cognitive dissonance theory can help improve interventions to reduce bias and support providers' efforts treating obesity.