Disability Discrimination and Obesity: The Big Questions?

Curr Obes Rep. 2015 Dec;4(4):504-9. doi: 10.1007/s13679-015-0182-7.

Abstract

Obesity discrimination in employment and recruitment has become a topic of focus for research examination with increasing reports of discrimination by colleagues and managers. Whilst a limited number of legal cases have emerged, disability law is consulted in line with the expectation of anti-discriminatory practices at work. In line with disability law, whether obesity is defined as a disability or not has an impact on the outcome of a court ruling. Ambiguity when defining obesity through either the medical or social model means there are many questions that remain unanswered which might lead to inconsistency in court rulings.

Keywords: Discrimination; Employment law; Obesity; Stigma; Weight bias; Workplace.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Disabled Persons / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Disabled Persons / psychology*
  • Employment*
  • Humans
  • Obesity / psychology*
  • Prejudice*
  • Social Discrimination / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Social Environment
  • Work Capacity Evaluation
  • Workplace / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Workplace / organization & administration