Weight discrimination and women

Introduction: Weight discrimination (WD) is a well-documented phenomenon; as the prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW/O) increases, so does the stigma attached to this condition. WD may lead to psychological trauma, decreased employment opportunities, lower wages and other disparities. Because other gender-based disparities in social and economic determinants of health are known to exist, it is important to determine how WD affects women compared to men. The present study investigated the relationship between WD and gender.

Methods: Existing data was collected from secondary sources and analyzed using a variety of methods. Types and consequences of WD as well as legal precedents were analyzed in terms of gender.

Results: Women are disproportionately affected by many manifestations of WD, including negative stereotypes about their personalities and capabilities as employees. For women, WD leads to disparities in wages, employment, and social opportunities affecting financial stability. Race may be a protective factor against WD in some instances. There have been several major cases involving WD, the majority of which have been brought by female plaintiffs; however, few have been successful and current U.S. law still offers little legal protection against WD. Conclusions: Because women are more susceptible to WD than men, WD is a social justice issue for women. Women face economic and social disparities affecting health regardless of weight; WD can both contribute to and compound these issues. Therefore, in order to create effect programs, public health interventions targeting health disparities in women and/or OW/O should consider WD during the program planning process.