Mocking the overweight ‘should be illegal’

POKING fun at overweight people should be treated just as seriously as racism and sexism, an obesity expert has claimed.

Dr Sarah Jackson, from University College London, believes the law should protect against weight discrimination in the same way that it prohibits singling people out based on their age, gender or race.

Dr Jackson spoke out after conducting two studies into the effects of ‘fattism’. The first showed that trying to shame people into slimming actually resulted in them piling on the pounds. Her latest study found fat people who were made to feel ashamed of their size suffered more symptoms of depression.

Dr Jackson said people believe that weight discrimination is socially acceptable because it is not covered by law. She added: ‘In the UK, the Equality Act protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy.

‘Discriminatory experiences contribute to poorer psychological wellbeing in individuals with obesity, but there are currently no laws prohibiting weight discrimination.

‘This might send the message that weight discrimination is socially acceptable. If weight was a protected category it could improve wellbeing for obese individuals.’