Weight controllability effects on prejudice and self-efficacy (Time 1 and 2)

The experiment randomly allocated 346 participants (49 males) into one of three conditions: controllable contributors toward obesity condition (e.g., information about personal control about diet and exercise); uncontrollable contributors toward obesity condition (e.g., information about genes, factors in society); and a control condition with no information given.

Using randomised control trial design and pre- and post-measures, the present study addressed many methodological issues present in previous studies. Prejudice was present in 81% of the sample. Weight controllability information had no significant effect on prejudice levels or exercise or healthy eating self-efficacy levels.