Fatphobia Explained in 25 Stats & Trends
Fatphobia is the irrational fear and mistreatment of obese individuals, which manifests as discrimination or prejudice. This bias affects not only the mental and emotional well-being of those targeted, but also their physical health.
Health is an ever-sensitive topic, and discussions around it intersect with complex issues like body size, health status, and physical activity. While obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are linked to certain health complications, body weight alone is not a definitive indicator of health.
Individuals with heavier body weights can lead perfectly healthy lives, just as those who appear thin are not necessarily healthier. The risks associated with being overweight are well known, but focusing only on weight results in oversimplifications and contributes to fatphobia. This kind of bias isn't just unfair; it actively stigmatizes overweight people.
This article aims to highlight just how pervasive fatphobia is, what can be done to challenge and overcome these biases, and outline steps that can be taken to address and dismantle this irrational fear.
Fatphobia: The Basics
Fatphobia—also known as anti-fat bias, weight bias, and weight stigma—describes the negative attitudes and stereotypes that are attached to bigger bodies. This bias manifests as an irrational fear or an extreme aversion to being fat or being around those who are.
It often stems from the presumption that fat people either choose to be fat or lack the willpower to lose weight. Such attitudes reinforce harmful notions that an individual’s value is intrinsically tied to their body weight and create a false sense of moral superiority for observers.
The Types of Fatphobia
Interpersonal fatphobia is likely the most obvious form of this type of bias. It relates to how a fat person might be treated by others as a result of their weight or body composition.
Intrapersonal fatphobia, on the other hand, involves negative self-beliefs about one’s own body, leading to self-stigma and personal distress.
There’s also institutional fatphobia. This is systemic and embedded within the policies and practices of institutions, which can lead to discrimination in healthcare, employment, and broader societal participation.
Together, these types of fatphobia contribute to a societal structure that marginalizes individuals based on their body size, with profound implications for their health, well-being, and quality of life.
The Consequences of Fatphobia
One of the most shocking consequences of fatphobia is its interference with healthcare accessibility. This occurs for several reasons. First, there is a prevalent assumption that fat individuals cannot be healthy, which colors medical perceptions and treatment plans.
Second, clinical care teams often lack the experience and resources to effectively treat patients of diverse body sizes, which can lead to inadequate care. This includes practical limitations such as the size of examination tables, gowns, and blood pressure cuffs, as well as bias-driven treatment that focuses on weight loss despite the presence of potentially unrelated symptoms.
Third, when people with bigger bodies lose weight, they will likely be praised for this “achievement,” regardless of how they did it. This praise often ignores potentially dangerous methods of weight loss and overlooks the significant mental health implications of constant body surveillance and judgment.
Bullying is another consequence of anti-fat bias that overweight people have to deal with throughout their lives. This mistreatment often begins in childhood and extends into adulthood where fat people have to face discrimination in public spaces, the workplace as well as healthcare environments.
Talking About Fatness and Fatphobia
Fatphobia and related issues can be sensitive topics to discuss, so it's important to understand the language around anti-fat bias and the fat acceptance movement.
The terms “fat” and “bigger bodies” are both intended to describe a body type, much like “tall” or “short.” The fat acceptance movement is working to challenge the notion that “fat” is an insult, hoping that our culture and society stop harming others by treating their body type as something to be shamed for.
While this language is widely preferred, not every fat person will necessarily be comfortable with it. It’s best to ask whoever you’re speaking with to understand what language they prefer to use when talking about this topic.
In this article, we sometimes use the terms “overweight” or “obese.” This is because many of the studies and surveys that we’re drawing from use this terminology and we want to ensure accuracy.
However, it’s important to note that these terms are tied to body mass index (BMI) and carry medical and societal stigma.
BMI is known to be a poor indicator of health because it doesn't differentiate between muscle and fat. It also ignores differences in body fat distribution due to sex, race, and ethnicity, making it a less accurate measure of health for people from diverse backgrounds.
Section 1: Fatphobia: Prevalence, Causes, and Effects
Fatphobia, or the fear and dislike of fat individuals, is a widespread issue that stems from cultural stereotypes and media influence. Let’s explore the origins, common occurrences, and damaging impacts this bias has on both individuals and society.
#1: A Large Percentage of People Experience Weight Stigma
Nearly half of the US population has experienced weight stigma at some point in their lives. This shows that fatphobia, weight bias, and body image are issues that are deeply ingrained in our society. People experience weight stigma through negative verbal comments, people teasing or staring at them in public spaces, or physical attacks.
Fat bias can also present itself in the exclusionary design of certain spaces. For example, when cinema or airplane seats are not designed to accommodate people with bigger bodies. This might lead people around those with bigger bodies to complain or move away from them, which contributes to the negative effects of weight stigma.
#2: Health Outcomes for Overweight People Due to Fatphobia
Many healthcare professionals rely on BMI to assess overall health because it’s a quick and easy calculation. However, a study revealed that 29% of people who were considered obese, and 16% of those who were categorized as type 2 or 3 obese, were metabolically healthy. On the other hand, over 30% of those considered to be normal weight were metabolically unhealthy.
To overcome its shortcomings, BMI should be combined with other health measurements like blood pressure, waist circumference, cholesterol, or blood sugar to figure out whether a person is healthy rather than simply basing an assessment on their weight.
#3: The Inaccuracies of BMI
Body mass index doesn't account for differences in body composition between different sexes or racial and ethnic groups. For example, a 30-year-old black man with a BMI of 25 kg/m² has a lower body fat percentage than a 70-year-old white man with the same BMI.
While BMI can be useful for population-wide measurements, the fact that weight is made up of components other than fat, such as muscle mass and bone, means that it’s not necessarily helpful for individual measures. Therefore, using BMI alongside other metrics, such as waist circumference and body composition analysis, can provide a more accurate assessment of health risks and outcomes.
#4: Fat shaming is a serious issue
Fat shaming is the action of humiliating someone based solely on their weight. This can involve making critical comments about their body size, mocking them, or saying anything negative about a person with a bigger body, even if it’s disguised as a compliment.
Fat shaming is a widespread problem in the US, with 85% percent of all Americans, regardless of their own weight, considering it to be a serious issue. Of that number, 48% believe that it's extremely serious or very serious.
#5: Weight Discrimination at Work
Weight discrimination is widespread in the American workplace. People with bigger bodies face discrimination that can manifest as lower hiring rates, fewer promotions, and lower salaries. It may also happen that those in positions of power subject fat people to coercion and harassment; for example, with compulsory health or fitness programs.
Michigan and a few other US cities have specific prohibitions against this form of discrimination, but few others have instituted similar protections. New legislation is proposed to expand these protections in New York and Massachusetts, but it’s not confirmed yet.
#6: Weight Bias on Dating Apps
The pressure to conform to societal standards of fitness and body weight can make it difficult for men and women to navigate the dating scene.
A survey conducted by Indian dating app QuackQuack showed that a large percentage of men were rejected due to their body type. It also showed that 21% of dating app users aged from 23 to 26 prefer to date someone “on the fitter size,” citing health as the reason.
The LGBTQ+ dating community is also affected by this phenomenon. Phrases like “No Fats” are commonplace on hookup app profiles. In fact, a study found that more than a third of gay men have been rejected based only on their body type.
#7: Common Microaggressions on Fatphobia
More than 60% of overweight and obese people report having experienced microaggressions or stigmatizing situations in their day-to-day lives.
Microaggressions are subtle acts of discrimination that can damage self-esteem, worsen mental health, and prevent people from seeking necessary medical or social support for fear of judgment. This might look like being asked whether they’ve tried a certain diet or being told that they’re “brave” for wearing certain clothing.
Stigmatization, on the other hand, is when people identify an undesirable trait in others (e.g. their body size) in a way that restricts their social identity to that trait. An example of this is the representation of overweight characters in media being unhygienic or academically challenged.
#8: Where Does Fatphobia Occur?
Obese children are more likely to be bullied than their thin peers, while adults with bigger bodies report stigmatization from their co-workers. In both of these settings, fatphobia can lead to bullying, bias during recruitment processes, and a lack of appropriate health and wellness programs.
A large percentage of people with bigger bodies also report high levels of stigmatization by healthcare professionals. This is one of the most concerning environments in which fatphobia occurs, as it can lead to inadequate treatment of these individuals’ medical conditions.
#9: How the Media Perpetuates Fatphobia
Leon Festinger created the social comparison theory in 1954. It states that people tend to compare themselves to others they perceive as better than themselves. In today’s mass media environment, this has led to many people becoming dissatisfied with their own and others’ bodies.
Media outlets share images of idealized bodies while marginalizing bigger bodies. People compare their bodies to these unrealistic standards they constantly see on their social media, which makes them feel dissatisfied with their bodies and leads to fatphobia.
#10: Diet Culture and the Weight Loss Industry
Diet culture fuels fatphobia. It draws a line between thinness and health. At the same time, the media tends to favor certain types of bodies, particularly thin ones, which reinforces fatphobia.
The weight loss industry, which has been booming worldwide since the early 1900s, promotes quick fixes to achieve unrealistic body standards, further entrenching weight stigma. This approach overlooks the complexity of people’s conditions and perpetuates an often unattainable idea of health that focuses narrowly on body size.
#11: Fatphobia Stories From Popular Culture
There is a highly pervasive culture of weight stigma in Hollywood and celebrities of all kinds are constantly put under a microscope when it comes to their weight. There have been numerous reports from actors and actresses alike that highlight just how serious this issue is.
For example, thin actresses like Kate Beckinsale and Amanda Seyfried have been told outright that they wouldn’t get roles because they were overweight. It’s not exclusive to women, either. Actor Chris Pratt told Vanity Fair that he didn’t get the role of Scott Hatteberg in Moneyball because he was “too fat.”
It’s important to keep in mind that these are all personal accounts of anti-fat bias. However, considering the lack of representation of bigger-bodied people across the board in the media, it stands to reason that this issue is widespread in the industry.
#12: Fatphobia and Self-Esteem
A 2021 study conducted in Turkey looked at the relationship between anti-fat bias, self-esteem, and bariatric surgery.
Overwhelmingly, the reasons patients decided to have bariatric surgery weren't related to health; the majority elected to have this extremely serious procedure because they felt insecure, were blamed for their weight problems, or lacked a satisfying social life.
#13: Weight Stigma Affects Mental Health
Weight and body size discrimination place a significant psychological burden on those with obesity and can lead to myriad psychological issues. Weight stigma is a key factor in this.
A meta-study that looked at data from more than 59,000 people found that weight-related stigmatization is strongly linked with poorer mental health. Whether actual or perceived, this stigma negatively affects people’s quality of life and body image, and can lead to eating disorders as well as depression and anxiety.
#14: Fatphobia and Alcohol Abuse
Data from the Eating in America Study shows that weight stigma contributes significantly to increased alcohol use. This may be because individuals who are exposed to weight stigma typically experience increased psychological distress, leading them to use alcohol to cope.
At the same time, alcohol consumption and abuse have been linked to stroke, heart disease, and some types of cancer. As a result, weight stigma and the negative behaviors that it can lead to can undermine the physical and mental health of those who experience it.
#15: Fatphobia and Body Image
How women talk about their bodies with each other can affect their body image. A 2023 study of 195 women in the US looked at how different types of body talk affect body dissatisfaction, fatphobia, and negative feelings.
Women were paired off and instructed to talk about their bodies. Those who were involved in “fat talk”—saying negative things about their own bodies to one another—had significantly increased levels of fatphobia after the experiment compared to those who engaged in body function talk (where the response to negative sentiments was about the value of body function).
This research suggests that shifting the focus on what our bodies can do rather than what they look like can be a solution to fatphobia.
#16: Weight Stigma Affects Job Opportunities
A study of 2,838 American adults found that overweight workers are more likely to report experiencing job discrimination because of their weight. This bias results in them being seen as lazy, unmotivated, and unprofessional, affecting promotions and job assignments.
Fifteen percent of US workers surveyed by SHRM said that someone had made false assumptions about them because of their weight during their career. This is confirmed by HR professionals, who note that obese employees are not always treated as fairly as their “average-weight” counterparts.
#17: Children Perceived as Overweight Have a Lower Quality of Life
The KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire assesses health-related quality of life (HRQoL) through areas like physical and psychological well-being, autonomy and parent relations, social support, peer relationships, and school environment.
A cross-sectional study that examined the HRQoL of children with overweight (≥25 kg/m2), obese (≥30 kg/m2), and severely obese (≥35 kg/m2) BMIs found that those who were severely obese scored lower in all areas, indicating they experience a lower quality of life overall.
Section 2: How Fatphobia Affects Different Demographic Groups
Fatphobia affects different groups in society. From gender differences to the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and the early onset of weight bias in children, we explore the general impact and the specific ways these groups encounter and deal with weight stigma.
#18: Gender Differences in Experiences of Weight Stigma
Weight stigma drives over- or underestimation of one's status. People who underestimate their weight status or don't think of themselves as "overweight" are less sensitive to weight stigma-related experiences.
This has a much greater effect on women than men. While women consider themselves overweight at a BMI of 23.7, men consider themselves overweight only at a BMI of 26.1. This is concerning, as women who thought of themselves as overweight reported greater internalization of weight bias and were more concerned about their shape and weight than were overweight men.
#19: Weight Stigma in the LGTBQ+Community
A study published in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity found that gay, bisexual, and lesbian individuals deal with really tough criticism about their bodies.
Gay and bisexual men particularly feel a lot of pressure to have the “perfect” masculine body compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Experiencing weight discrimination and the emphasis on physical appearance leads these individuals to feel dissatisfied with their bodies and have a lower psychological quality of life.
#20: Early Signs and Fatphobia in Children
A study of 3- to 5-year-old children explored how kids in this age group perceive weight. It found that they associated larger body figures with negative traits and thinner figures with positive traits. What’s more, the older children were, the more likely they were to correlate larger figures with negative characteristics.
The children’s own body image and the body image attitudes of their mothers also played a role in their choices, indicating that children’s attitudes toward weight are shaped by their social surroundings.
#21: Fatphobia Starts at a Young age
Children begin to develop weight biases at a young age. A study into the topic found that 64% of preteens rated a fractal image as “good” after being shown a picture of a thin person, but only 59% did the same after seeing an image of a bigger-bodied person.
One of the major by-products of weight stigma is bullying. Children with bigger bodies are specially targeted. In a national survey of sixth-graders perceived as overweight, 24% of the boys and 30% of the girls experienced bullying because of their size. In the case of high school students with bigger bodies, the number doubles.
#22: Global Perspectives on Weight Stigma
A study including people from 71 countries found that there are more negative attitudes toward weight in higher-income, industrialized nations, like the US, Australia, and countries in Western Europe. People with bigger bodies in these regions are subject to legal and socially acceptable forms of discrimination that negatively impact their emotional and physical well-being.
There’s limited but still relevant evidence that weight stigma is growing in the global south as a result of globalization; for example, anti-fat beliefs and “fat talk.” Although this issue hasn’t been researched to the same extent as it has in the global north, there is evidence that these sentiments are spreading.
#23: Weight Bias and Employment in China
In China, there’s a noticeable bias in urban workplaces when it comes to hiring people based on their weight. Interestingly, this bias doesn’t affect everyone equally. A study from Sichuan University found that overweight men don't face the same employment challenges as their female counterparts.
The optimal BMI for employment in China is lower for females than for males, which highlights the gender imbalance. For women, being overweight reduces their likelihood of getting hired by about 15.2%, which is not the case for overweight men.
#24: Weight Bias in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa
A study by RTI International in conjunction with UNICEF found that weight-related stigma negatively affects the mental health of adolescents in low- and middle-income countries, a problem previously associated mainly with high-income countries.
The research, which surveyed 1,200 young people in Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa, found that weight stigma is prevalent among adolescents; especially those who are overweight or obese but also those who are underweight.
One of the most concerning findings was that the negative comments about their weight that drive this stigma are usually made by family members and friends.
Section 3: History of Fatphobia
This section traces the historical roots of fatphobia and examines how attitudes about body weight and shape have evolved over time. We'll explore the cultural and societal changes that have shaped current perceptions and prejudices against fat people.
#25: Historical Perceptions of Fatness in Different Societies
People’s attitudes toward their bodies vary across societies and cultural contexts. Historically, the way people perceived body types was influenced by social, economic, and cultural factors. Socially dominant groups had better access to resources and extra weight was seen as a sign of wealth, fertility, and prosperity.
In China, thin people went on bulking diets to be attractive enough to find a partner. Sentiments were similar in Nigeria, where girls would try to get fat to achieve the “ideal” female body before marriage. In Mexico, having fat legs was considered an essential aspect of beauty. Even in the US, carrying extra weight was a symbol of beauty for both men and women up to the early 20th century.
#26: The Emergence of Processed Foods and Their Link to Fatphobia and Discrimination
Ultra-processed foods are made with cheap ingredients like starches, vegetable oils, sugars, starches, and other additives like coloring, flavoring and emulsifiers. Examples include sugary drinks, mass-produced bread and confectionery, packaged snack foods, and frozen desserts.
The chemicals added to ultra-processed foods make them extremely appetizing, but their presence in our diet has been linked to type 2 diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and depression.
These foods are convenient and affordable, and they therefore form an integral part of some food systems. As a result, this has led to even greater stigmatization around eating these foods as well as more anti-fat biases in recent years.
#27: Changes in Dietary Nutritional Profiles over the Last Century
The increase of ultra-processed foods in our diets has had a significant effect on the nutrients that we receive from what we eat.
Over the past 100 years, there’s been an increase in the average person’s intake of healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, and eggs. We’ve also seen a 118% increase in the availability of fats and oils in our diets, which has resulted in a steep rise in the amount of cholesterol-causing saturated fat we consume.
Considering the relatively small changes in the average person’s nutritional intake alongside the steep increase in fatphobia over the same period, some researchers have concluded that much of this bias stems from weight being viewed as a moral issue.
Section 4: Debunking Fatphobic Arguments
In this section, we’ll address the many myths surrounding fatphobia and debunk the misconceptions that fuel prejudice and discrimination against larger bodies. Our goal is to challenge stereotypes and promote a more accurate and compassionate understanding of body diversity.
#1 Myth: Fat People Lack Willpower
There's a common belief that if we had more self-control, we would eat healthy, exercise regularly, stop procrastinating, and achieve many admirable goals (like losing weight). However, this is false. In one survey, people constantly mention their lack of willpower as the first reason for not following through with these changes.
Many people keep blaming their lack of willpower for their inability to lose weight. Yet, many different things, like genetics, the environment we live in, how our bodies use energy, and even our social and economic background, play a role in how someone gains or loses weight. Willpower itself is futile when it comes to losing weight and is not a predictor that someone will be successful in this goal.
#2 Myth: Fat Shaming Helps People Become Healthier
Fat shaming is often believed to motivate healthier behavior. However, research shows that this is a myth. Fat shaming causes stress, which often leads to increased calorie consumption and weight gain.
Rather than promoting their well-being, people who fat shame others exacerbate their victims’ psychological distress. This type of criticism has been shown to lead to depression, eating disorders, and low self-esteem.
Section 5: Recognizing and Responding to Fatphobia
Fatphobia can manifest itself in different ways in everyday life, so it’s important to recognize these patterns.
Some signs of fatphobia include negative comments or jokes about someone’s weight, unsolicited advice about dieting or exercise, and assumptions about health based solely on someone’s size. It’s also evident when larger people are excluded or are treated poorly in social, professional, and healthcare settings.
Type of Fatphobia | What to Look Out For | Potential Effects |
Medical Fatphobia | Assumptions about your lifestyle from healthcare providers, overlooking signs of disordered eating, and recommending weight loss regardless of other health indicators. | Misdiagnoses, poorer health outcomes, and diminished patient trust in healthcare professionals. |
Fatphobia in Personal Interactions | Judgmental comments or unsolicited advice about dieting. | Damaged self-esteem and perpetuated negative stereotypes. |
Fatphobia in Social Media | Content that stigmatizes weight gain or idealizes thinness, such as “fitspo” or “before and after” content. | Spread harmful ideals and misconceptions about fat people. |
Structural Fatphobia | When public spaces and products do not cater to diverse body sizes. | Exclusion, stress, and discomfort for individuals. |
Knowing the signs of fatphobia is critical for understanding and addressing the pervasive effects of this bias in our daily interactions and broader societal structures.
Keep in mind, though, that fatphobia can be very difficult to pinpoint, as offenders can just say that they’re not discriminating based on someone’s size, but another attribute. This ambiguity makes it challenging to address and confront fatphobia, as it can be easily masked or justified under different pretenses.
Fortunately, there are practical steps you can take to fight fatphobia and create a more inclusive environment that’s accepting of all body types. Here are some strategies and measures that can help curb fatphobic attitudes and behaviors:
Don’t Use Weight-Based Language: Approach everyone with kindness and understanding rather than making and verbalizing judgments based on size. Letting go of weight allows people to simply be themselves, free from unsolicited advice or judgment.
Call Out Bad Behavior: If someone around you makes unfair or hurtful comments about weight, it’s okay to speak up. Tell them how it makes you feel and ask them to stop. If they don’t listen, you have every right to distance yourself, permanently or temporarily.
Challenge Your Own Fatphobia: Consider why you make such judgments about others based on their appearance. Remember, you’re not just an object to be judged, and neither is anyone else. This is an opportunity to lead by example and treat others as you would want to be treated.
Love Your Body: Starting to appreciate your own appearance can be profoundly beneficial. Embracing your own features without self-judgment can help to strengthen your empathy and compassion, which is key for combating body negativity.
Talk About Fatphobia: Educating others about weight discrimination is essential. Discussing fatphobia openly can help dismantle this unfairness to create a community where everyone is treated equally.
The Bottom Line
Despite the challenges, progress is being made towards dismantling fatphobia. Increased awareness and initiatives aimed at creating more inclusive environments show promising steps forward.
However, the journey to completely eradicate weight bias and stigma is still ongoing and both individual and systemic actions are crucial in this fight.
As individuals, it's important to reflect on our own biases and take active steps to challenge and change fatphobic attitudes and behaviors. This includes engaging in positive self-talk, embracing body acceptance, and calling out fatphobia whenever it arises.
On a larger scale, advocating for inclusive policies in healthcare, employment, and media representation is essential. Plus, supporting organizations and movements that push for these changes can amplify our efforts.
Let’s remember that everyone deserves respect and dignity, no matter their body size. By working together, we can build a society that truly values all individuals for who they are, not what they look like.
