article_snippet: Dr Sarah Jackson said that the law should protect against weight discrimination, in the same way at the law prohibits singling out people based on their age, gender or race.
article_snippet: Dr Sarah Jackson, the lead author of both studies, said that people may believe that weight discrimination is socially acceptable because unlike ageism, sexism and racism, it is not covered by law.
article_snippet: Dr Sarah Jackson said: ‘In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 legally protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, or gender reassignment; making it clear that discriminatory behaviour of this nature is not to be accepted.
article_snippet: However, our results indicate that discriminatory experiences contribute to poorer psychological wellbeing in individuals with obesity, but there are currently no laws prohibiting weight discrimination.
article_snippet: This might send the message to people that weight discrimination is socially acceptable.
article_snippet: Dr Sarah Jackson said that the law should protect against weight discrimination, in the same way at the law prohibits singling out people based on their age, gender or race.
article_snippet: If weight was a protected category it might help to reduce the prevalence of weight-related discrimination and thereby improve quality of life and wellbeing for a significant proportion of obese individuals.
article_snippet: ’ Researcher Professor Jane Wardle said: ‘Combined with our previous work showing that weight discrimination does not encourage weight loss, we can see that weight discrimination is part of the obesity problem and not the solution.
article_snippet: ‘Weight bias has been documented not only among the general public but also among health professionals; and many obese patients report being treated disrespectfully by doctors because of doctors weight.
article_snippet: Everyone, including doctors, should stop blaming and shaming people for people weight, and offer support, and where appropriate, treatment.
highlights_snippet: Dr Sarah Jackson says law should protect against weight discrimination .
  
highlights_snippet: Dr Sarah Jackson says people may believe it is socially acceptable because unlike ageism, sexism and racism, it is not covered by law .
  