Healthcare Communication Analysis: A Multi-Country Study on the Perception of Obesity-Related Terminology in Healthcare and Everyday Contexts
Kratka vsebina
This cross-national study examines how obesity-related terminology is perceived (Fat, Adipose, Obese, Chubby), as more acceptable or offensive, in healthcare and everyday communication contexts. The research was conducted among 1102 university students from four European countries, addressing four research questions. The study explores contextual differences, educational background (medical vs. non-medical students), and cultural variability of obesity-related terminology. The results show that medically grounded terms such as Obese and Adipose are consistently perceived as more acceptable and less offensive, particularly in healthcare settings. In contrast, colloquial terms such as Fat and Chubby are more frequently rated as offensive, especially in clinical contexts. Medical students demonstrate greater acceptance of professional terminology compared to non-medical students. Cross-national differences are evident, particularly for culturally sensitive terms such as Adipose and Chubby. Based on these findings, a matrix of terminology stability and cultural variability is developed, distinguishing universally stable terms from culturally dependent ones. Overall, the results emphasize the need for context-sensitive and culturally aware communication strategies in obesity-related discourse.






