UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

The prevalence of weight discrimination in the United States is comparable to racial discrimination, and is even more common than gender or age discrimination in the employment setting. This handout provides examples of weight bias in the workplace, explains the consequences, and offers strategies to reduce it.

Companies can benefit from implementing workplace wellness initiatives, as they often result in healthier employees leading to a reduction in health care costs, decreases in absenteeism, and improvements in employee productivity. However, some companies may wonder, should weight loss be a goal of workplace wellness initiatives? This handout answers this question and offers suggestions for effective, non-stigmatizing wellness initiatives.

If you are concerned about your child’s weight, you may be wondering if you should talk to your child about it directly. Talking about weight is a sensitive issue, and children are particularly at risk of being negatively influenced by conversations and comments about their weight. Although these conversations are well-intentioned, it is recommended that parents avoid discussing weight with their children, and instead focus conversations around health rather than weight.

If you are being bullied about your weight, you may be tempted to try to lose weight to make the bullying stop. But it is important to remember that unhealthy eating habits are dangerous and can be very harmful to your health. Anytime you try to lose weight too quickly, you can often gain the weight back and develop a cycle of unhealthy eating. Here are some tips for healthy things you can do to feel better about yourself and your body.

You may not be surprised to learn that many children and adolescents with high body weight are teased and made fun of by peers at school and through social media. This has damaging effects on children’s emotional and physical well-being. But, did you know that parents can also be a source of weight bias? In addition, weight-based comments from parents may have lasting impacts on children. Here are some quotes from adults reflecting on their experiences of weight bias.

This handout provides tips to combat weight bias, including challenging your personal assumptions about body weight, communicating with sensitive language, and increasing your understanding about the causes of weight gain.

Using the guidelines in this handout can improve patient care in your office. Review these guidelines with your medical and administrative staff to create a comfortable and welcoming office environment for patients with higher body weight

When going to the doctor, many patients feel anxious and often leave their appointment with unanswered questions. As a patient, you need to know what your health issues are, what your choices for treatment are, and why you might choose one option over another. It is very important to ask direct questions to your doctor to help you decide what decisions are best for you. Remember that your relationship with your doctor should be a partnership, where you work as a team to make the most appropriate decisions for your health.This handout provides strategies to help prepare you for your doctor’s appointment, so that you can obtain the information that you need, and so that you can take control of your health care.

Children with high body weight are vulnerable to weight bias. This means that they may be the target of negative attitudes in the form of stereotypes, prejudice and unfair treatment because of their weight. Weight bias can be expressed in different ways, such as verbal
comments, physical aggression, and social exclusion. This handout helps parents identify if their child is being targeted and how to help.

Full citation: Lessard LM, Puhl RM, Watson RJ. Gay-Straight Alliances: A Mechanism of Health Risk Reduction Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Adolescents. Am J Prev Med. 2020;59(2):196-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2020.02.020