Sizeism

Sizeism, also called size discrimination or weight stigma, is unfair or prejudicial treatment of people based on their size. It most often targets people in larger bodies, though it can affect anyone judged for being too big, too small, too tall, or too short. It shows up in hiring, healthcare, media, and everyday social life. Within LGBTQ+ communities, sizeism can be especially visible in gay male dating culture, where narrow body ideals are prized and other bodies get sidelined. Body-positive and fat-liberation movements push back, celebrating diverse bodies and challenging the exclusion. Weight stigma is also linked to worse health outcomes and higher rates of disordered eating across body sizes.