Medical students faced with a patient in a fat suit tend to react negatively — but this could be a useful teaching aid, researchers say.

A German proof-of-concept study found that compared with teaching physicians, medical students seeing a patient with obesity were more likely to agree with statements such as: “Fat people could lose weight if they really wanted to”, “Most fat people are lazy” and “There is no excuse for being fat”.

More than 200 German medical students, 22 teachers and 13 patients took part in simulated consultations with a female patient with type 2 diabetes.

Medical students played the role of her GP in a routine follow-up appointment where the patient reported struggling to keep up regular exercise, medication and healthy eating.