Comparing fat phobia attitudes of faculty of health sciences students in A foundation university

This study was carried out to determine fat phobia scores of Faculty of Health Sciences students in Yeditepe University. For this purpose, 311 students who accepted to participate in the research were given data forms consisting of demographic questions such as age, gender, studying department, height (cm), weight (kg) and 14-item Fat Phobia Scale. Data obtained from data forms was biostatistically analyzed via SPSS Statistics 22 and in a result; fat phobia score of students who are studying Nutrition and Dietetics was determined 3,92, fat phobia score of students studying Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation was 3,54 and fat phobia score of students who are studying Nursing was found 3,82. Fat phobia score of students who are studying Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation was found significantly lower than fat phobia scores of Nutrition and Dietetics and Nursing students. On the other hand, no significant difference was determined between gender and fat phobia score. Students who are in thin BMI range was found to be have significantly higher fat phobia score than students being in healthy BMI range. However, for students that are in other BMI ranges, no significant difference was determined according to their fat phobia score. Consequently, as a future health-care professionals, students who are studying in Health Sciences Faculty were found to have fat phobia that affects individuals' obesity treatment negatively. Thus, for avoiding or decreasing fat phobia, public awareness and new strategies should be developed and broader scientific researches are needed.