Weight stigma and discrimination: Time for change!

Weight-based stigma and discrimination exist toward individuals whose body size deviates from stringent societal ideals of thinness. Growing concerns about the prevalence and damaging consequences of weight-based bullying, stigma, and discrimination have led to increasing calls for policy measures to protect people from weight-based prejudice on a broader scale. This chapter reviews policy and legal efforts that have been proposed or implemented to facilitate positive embodiment for youth and adults, including evidence on public attitudes about policies and laws that aim to reduce weight-based bullying and discrimination. In addition, policy initiatives and research evidence in North America, Europe, and other parts of the world are highlighted, including the strengths and limitations of these efforts. Directions for future policy research and advocacy efforts are identified that can improve on existing legal initiatives to promote equitable treatment of individuals of diverse body sizes.

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Obesity, Weight Stigma and Discrimination

Journal of Obesity & Eating Disorders ◽

10.21767/2471-8203.100016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sarah E Jackson

Keyword(s):

Weight Stigma ◽

Stigma And Discrimination

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Experiences of weight stigma in everyday life: An ecological momentary assessment study

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105320934179 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 135910532093417

Author(s):

Lindsey Potter ◽

Angela Meadows ◽

Joshua Smyth

Keyword(s):

Everyday Life ◽

Ecological Momentary Assessment ◽

Weight Stigma ◽

Future Research ◽

Stigma And Discrimination ◽

Assessment Study ◽

Nature Frequency ◽

Ecological Momentary ◽

Negative Health Outcomes ◽

Momentary Assessment

Weight stigma and discrimination have been linked to negative health outcomes. Most research on this topic is retrospective, which may not accurately capture day-to-day experiences. The current used ecological momentary assessment to examine weight stigma and discrimination in everyday life. Participants answered ecological momentary assessments about the nature, frequency, and contextual details of weight stigma and discrimination. Over the course of the study, only eight episodes of weight stigma and discrimination were reported. Given that prior ecological momentary assessment studies reported substantially more frequent weight stigma and discrimination, possible explanations for the findings and implications for future research are discussed.

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