Weight Bias, Stigma & Discrimination

Imagine being judged for your weight rather than for who you are.

That’s the reality for millions of Canadians living with obesity.

Weight bias isn’t always loud, but its impact echoes through lives. It stems from the harmful belief that body size is solely the result of personal choices—an idea that unfairly blames individuals for obesity. In reality, obesity is a complex condition influenced by biology, environment, and the systems we live in.

This bias is why people living with obesity hesitate to see a doctor, fearing judgment instead of receiving care. It’s why qualified professionals are passed over for promotions. It’s why children living with obesity report lower self-esteem and higher rates of bullying.

Weight bias and stigma are silent but pervasive forms of discrimination whose harms ripple through every part of society. Studies show that weight bias leads to worse health outcomes, mental distress, and economic inequality.

But here’s the truth: weight bias isn’t inevitable—it’s something we can change.

A Black woman in a cream sweater and red skirt stands in an office with one hand on her hip.
A man with a beard stands in front of a lake in a park smiling at the camera
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What is weight bias and stigma?

Weight bias is when assumptions are made about a person based only on their weight. For those on the receiving end, it can cause feelings of shame, anxiety, and low self-esteem, leaving emotional and mental health struggles in its wake.

Weight stigma is rooted in harmful social stereotypes about people living with obesity. These misconceptions wrongly support beliefs that people living with obesity are lazy, undisciplined, or unintelligent, fueling bias and judgment that can deeply hurt.

When weight stigma turns into actions, it becomes weight discrimination—treating people living with obesity unfairly because of personal biases or social stereotypes. This can lead to social exclusion and inequities.

How common is weight bias and stigma?

From classrooms to workplaces to healthcare, weight bias, stigma, and discrimination are rampant, widespread problems.

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Recognize weight bias, stigma, and discrimination

Weight bias shows up in many aspects of life, creating barriers and causing harm in key areas:

A classroom of elementary school aged children with a teacher standing at the chalkboard.

1. In Schools

  • Exclusionary design: Furniture, equipment, and uniforms that don’t accommodate larger bodies.
  • Bullying & teasing: Targeting students based on their weight or body shape.
  • Stereotypes: Criticizing or removing items from lunches, assuming poor academic ability.
  • Representation gaps: Books and materials that fail to reflect body diversity.

2. In the Workplace

  • Exclusionary design: Furniture and equipment that exclude employees in larger bodies.
  • Harmful assumptions: Judging people as less competent, lazy, or lacking self-discipline.
  • Discrimination: Being overlooked for promotions, paid less, or terminated more frequently.
  • Hostile environment: Weight-based jokes, comments, or inaccessible wellness programs.
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A man is being examined by a doctor with a stethoscope. He is wearing a hospital gown

3. In Healthcare

  • Provider bias: Negative attitudes and assumptions about patients in larger bodies.
  • Limited access: Obesity treatments often aren’t covered by insurance plans.
  • Inadequate equipment: Gowns, scales, or imaging tools fail to accommodate diverse sizes.
  • Dismissal of symptoms: Health concerns are often attributed solely to weight, delaying proper care.

4. In Media

  • Harmful portrayals: Characters in larger bodies depicted as unintelligent, cruel, or lazy.
  • Stereotypes: Shown as unlikable or romantically undesirable.
  • Mockery: Jokes and teasing based on size.
  • Dehumanizing imagery: “Headless” depictions, overemphasized body parts, or being shown only in the act of eating in news stories.
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FAQS

I’ve experienced weight bias, stigma, and discrimination — what can I do?

Words matter. Person-first language ensures that individuals are not defined by their disease. Using people-first language—such as “person with obesity” instead of “obese person”—helps challenge harmful stereotypes and acknowledges that obesity is a complex chronic disease, not a personal failure.

This shift in language fosters dignity and encourages more compassionate, effective care.

  • Use people-first language
  • Eliminate stigmatizing images as much as possible
  • Pay attention to how people with obesity and those in larger bodies are represented in the media that you consume
  • Speak up about weight bias on social media
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Obesity Canada respectfully acknowledges that our work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island, which includes the lands now known as Canada. Our national office is located on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, and Nakota Sioux, and the homeland of the Métis.

We recognize the enduring presence, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism, including systemic barriers to health equity. As we work to improve the lives of people living with obesity, we commit to listening, learning, and taking meaningful action to advance reconciliation, health justice, and culturally safe care for all.

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