title: Effects of perceived weight discrimination on willingness to adopt unhealthy behaviours: influence of genomic information.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weight-based discrimination negatively influences health, potentially via increased willingness to engage in unhealthful behaviours. This study examines whether the provision of genomic obesity information in a clinical context can lead to less willingness to engage in unhealthy eating and alcohol consumption through a mediated process including reduced perceptions of blame and discrimination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 201 overweight or obese women aged 20-50 interacted with a virtual physician in a simulated clinical primary care environment, which included physician-delivered information that emphasised either genomic or behavioural underpinnings of weight and weight loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perceived blame and weight discrimination from the doctor, and willingness to eat unhealthy foods and consume alcohol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for BMI and race, participants who received genomic information perceived less blame from the doctor than participants who received behavioural information. In a serial multiple mediation model, reduced perceived blame was associated with less perceived discrimination, and in turn, lower willingness to eat unhealthy foods and drink alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing patients with genomic information about weight and weight loss may positively influence interpersonal dynamics between patients and providers by reducing perceived blame and perceived discrimination. These improved dynamics, in turn, positively influence health cognitions.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The George Washington University , Washington , DC , USA.
authors.forename: Janine B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.affiliation: b Behavioral Research Program , National Cancer Institute , Rockville , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.affiliation: b Behavioral Research Program , National Cancer Institute , Rockville , MD , USA.
authors.forename: William M P
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: c Social and Behavioral Research Branch , National Human Genome Research Institute , Bethesda , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Persky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D023281:Genomics; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: doctor–patient interaction; genomic information; obesity; personalised medicine; weight and weight loss; weight discrimination