Fatphobia Among Adolescents: how future health professionals perceive weight-related violence and the influence of social media

Background : Fatphobia is a pervasive form of discrimination that negatively affects physical, psychological, and social well-being. Adolescents undergoing technical education in the health field are simultaneously vulnerable to weight-related stigma especially through social media, and in training for future health professions, where discriminatory practices may be reproduced or challenged. This study aimed to explore how adolescent students enrolled in professional technical health courses perceive fatphobia and its relationship with social media. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 24 adolescents aged 15 to 17 years enrolled in Nursing and Aesthetics technical programs at a public technical school in Fortaleza, Brazil. Two focus group sessions were held, one for each program, using a semi-structured guide. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Descending Hierarchical Classification with the IRaMuTeQ software. The analysis sought to identify thematic patterns based on the frequency and association of textual segments. The study followed established qualitative reporting criteria to ensure transparency and rigor. Results: Five thematic classes emerged from the analysis: 1. Recognition and reproduction of weight stigma; 2. Personal and witnessed experiences of fatphobia; 3. Social construction of the “ideal body”; 4. Reinterpretation of health and critical perspectives on biomedical weight-centered discourse; and 5. Influence of social media and use of digital filters. Students recognized the existence and harmful effects of weight stigma but also acknowledged reproducing stigmatizing comments and behaviors, often perceived as normalized or humorous. Students demonstrated nuanced views about the relationship between body size and health, challenging weight-centered biomedical interpretations. Social media was described as a powerful driver of unrealistic aesthetic expectations, particularly through the use of digital filters, edited images, and influencer content that intensifies self-comparison and body dissatisfaction. Conclusions: Adolescents in technical health training recognize fatphobia as both an individual and structural issue, shaped by social norms and amplified by social media. Although they express empathy toward people with larger bodies, many simultaneously reproduce weight-stigmatizing practices. Technical-vocational schools represent strategic spaces for integrating educational interventions that promote body diversity, challenge weight-based prejudice, and support the development of more inclusive future health professionals. Clinical trial number: not applicable.