FAT PHOBIA - MEASURING, UNDERSTANDING, AND CHANGING ANTI-FAT ATTITUDES

We examined fat phobia, defined as a pathological fear of fatness, by constructing the Fat Phobia Scale, determining its reliability and val idity, examining correlates of fat phobia, and using a treatment appro ach designed to decrease fat phobia. Study 1 describes the development of the Fat Phobia Scale, a 50-item, modified 5-point semantic differe ntial scale. Subjects (974 females and 117 males) completed the scale; factor analysis yielded six factors. Respondents who are average weig ht, female, younger, have more than a high school education, or are no nmedical professionals are more likely to have fat phobic attitudes. S tudy 2 examines fat phobic attitudes of women (N = 40) who had negativ e feelings about their bodies. Subjects completed the Fat Phobia Scale before and after a treatment approach designed to reduce their feelin gs of responsibility for fatness. Total scores on the Fat Phobia Scale and scores on all six factors decreased significantly, indicating a d ecrease in fat phobia. (C) 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.