Drivers of medicalization in the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines.

The new Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines frame higher body weight as a chronic, relapsing disease requiring comprehensive medical treatment pathways. In this commentary, we will demonstrate how a process called pharmaceuticalization is informing the new guidelines. We join those questioning the normalization of industry and medical collaboration and interrogate whether the new guidelines meaningfully address stigma.

RéSUMé: Les nouvelles Lignes directrices canadiennes de pratique clinique de l'obésité chez l'adulte présentent le poids corporel élevé comme une maladie chronique récurrente nécessitant un parcours de soins médicaux complet. Dans notre commentaire, nous montrerons que ces nouvelles lignes directrices sont éclairées par un processus de « pharmaceuticalisation ¼. Nous joignons notre voix aux personnes qui remettent en question la normalisation de la collaboration entre l'industrie et la médecine, et nous nous demandons si les nouvelles lignes directrices abordent utilement la stigmatisation.

Exploring attitudes toward taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages in rural Michigan.

BACKGROUND: While policies to address "obesity" have existed for decades, they have commonly focused on behavioral interventions. More recently, the taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages is gaining traction globally. This study sought to explore individuals' attitudes and beliefs about sugar-sweetened beverages being taxed in a rural Michigan setting. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted using critical policy analysis. Data were collected in 25 semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews with adult Michiganders. Following data collection, transcripts were coded into themes using NVivo software. RESULTS: Four themes emerged in participants' perspectives regarding sugar-sweetened beverages being taxed: resistance, unfamiliarity, tax effects, and need for education. While some participants were unfamiliar with sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, many viewed taxation as a "slippery slope" of government intervention, which invoked feelings of mistrust. In addition, participants predicted a sugar-sweetened beverage tax would be ineffective at reducing intake, particularly among regular consumers, who were frequently perceived as mostly low income and/or of higher weight. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to explore perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in different geographic areas in the USA to examine how perceptions vary. Policymakers should be aware of the potential implications of this health policy with respect to government trust and stigma towards lower income and higher-weight individuals.

Patient Recommendations for Providers to Avoid Stigmatizing Weight in Rural-Based Women With Low Income.

PURPOSE: Weight stigma has become widespread within health care and disproportionately affects women, who are under greater appearance-based scrutiny than men. It is also well established that rural-based individuals with low incomes suffer greater health disparities compared with urban, higher-income counterparts, yet studies examining recommendations for nonstigmatizing health care among higher-weight women from low-income rural settings are lacking. This study examined the experiences and recommendations of higher-weight, low-income, rural women, with the aim of improving health care for similar populations. METHODS: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in a rural region of the Midwestern United States to explore participants' recommendations for redressing stigma within health care. All participants (n=25) self-identified as higher-weight, low-income, rural women. RESULTS: All participants experienced or were aware of weight stigma within health care. Themes identified from responses were understanding patients and their situations, offering options and supplemental information, communicating effectively, taking time, and having a positive attitude. Patient recommendations focused on correcting physician biases, rapport-building, and providing holistic care. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that weight stigma is prevalent within health care provided to low-income women in rural U.S. Midwest and that there are specific communication and training approaches that may reduce the prevalence of weight stigma in health care.

The relationships between health-related behaviours in the Canadian adult population.

BACKGROUND: Health-related behaviours such as physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, alcohol use, and inadequate sleep are significant predictors of adverse health outcomes. Health promotion strategies often focus on one behavior, though research suggests health-related behaviours tend to co-occur. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationships between health-related behaviours in the Canadian adult population. METHODS: Data from cycles 3 (2012-2013) and 4 (2014-2015) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey were pooled to describe health-related behaviours (current smoking status, high-risk alcohol use, fruit and vegetable intake, inadequate sleep, and physical activity) among adults according to sex, age group, household education, and income adequacy. Logistic regression was used to test for relationships between health-related behaviours. RESULTS: Findings indicated that adverse health-related behaviours co-occur frequently, with approximately half of Canadians reporting two or more adverse health-related behaviours. Overall, Canadian men were more likely to report adverse health-related behaviours compared to women, with the exception of inadequate sleep. Smoking status, fruit and vegetable intake, sleep and physical activity exhibited an income and education gradient. Sex-based patterns in grouping of behaviours were present such that adverse health-related behaviours were associated with current smoking among men and with high-risk alcohol use among women. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that health-related behaviours should be considered in both isolation and combination when designing intervention strategies. Sex-specific patterns of how these behaviours co-occur must also be taken into account.

Self-rated health and ethnicity: focus on indigenous populations.

OBJECTIVES: Self-rated health (SRH) is a commonly used measure in surveys to assess general health status or health-related quality of life. Differences have been detected in how different ethnic groups and nationalities interpret the SRH measure and assess their health. This review summarizes the research conducted on SRH within and between ethnic groups, with a focus on indigenous groups. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A search of published academic literature on SRH and ethnicity, including a comprehensive review of all relevant indigenous research, was conducted using PubMed and summarized. RESULTS: A wide variety of research on SRH within ethnic groups has been undertaken. SRH typically serves as an outcome measure. Minority respondents generally rated their health worse than the dominant population. Numerous culturally-specific determinants of SRH have been identified. Cross-national and cross-ethnicity comparisons of the associations of SRH have been conducted to assess the validity of SRH. While SRH is a valid measure within a variety of ethnicities, differences in how SRH is assessed by ethnicities have been detected. Research in indigenous groups remains generally under-represented in the SRH literature. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that different ethnic groups and nationalities vary in SRH evaluations, interpretation of the SRH measure, and referents employed in rating health. To effectively assess and redress health disparities and establish culturally-relevant and effective health interventions, a greater understanding of SRH is required, particularly among indigenous groups, in which little research has been conducted.