Integrate obesity simulation suits into broader multimodal designs with structured prebriefing, guided reflection, and debriefing rather than using them as standalone interventions¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 3 claims (3 mixed) · 1 study (1 review), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The review recommends that OSS be combined with didactic prebriefing, experiential tasks, and structured debriefing or reflection, and embedded within broader curricula on obesity, communication, or patient-centered care. It states that "structured pre-briefing, guided reflection, and debriefing appear essential to contextualize the experience and prevent misinterpretation," and that OSS should be integrated from the outset into well-structured teaching designs rather than used as isolated interventions. Complementary approaches such as standardized patients with lived experience and VR are suggested.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• All studies included post-simulation debriefing or reflection; debriefing should be systematically integrated following such activities

Constraints¶

• Current evidence does not demonstrate consistent or durable effects on weight bias or empathy, so OSS appear insufficient as standalone interventions

Target Learners¶

• undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare students, including medicine, nursing, nutrition science, and exercise science

Target Learning Goals¶

• reduce weight bias
• foster empathy and perspective-taking toward people with obesity

Claims¶

• Included studies acknowledge OSS cannot fully reproduce the lived experience of people with obesity [~W]
• No included study reported long-term follow-up, leaving durability of OSS effects unclear [~W]
• Evidence on obesity simulation suits in healthcare education is limited and heterogeneous, with mixed effects on attitudes and empathy [~W]

Related Strategies¶

• Debriefing
• Reflection Exercises
• Integrate simulation as a curriculum-embedded component with trained instructors and technological infrastructure

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Steinacker Anna C., Bischof Lukas, Herchet Daniela, Kreiss Victoria, Klingenberg Michael, Bösner Stefan. (2026). Obesity simulation suits in health professions education: a scoping review. BMC Medical Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-09565-1