OBJECTIVE: Weight-related discrimination is prevalent and associated with health impairments for those who are targeted, which underscores the need of antidiscrimination legislation. This study is the first to examine public support of weight-related antidiscrimination laws or policies in Germany, compared to the US and Iceland. METHODS: In a representative German population sample (N = 2,513), public support for general and employment-specific weight-related antidiscrimination policies, weight-based victimization, and weight bias internalization were measured through established self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Half of the German population sample agreed with antidiscrimination policies. General antidiscrimination laws received lower support than employment-specific laws. Support for policies considering obesity a physical disability was greatest in Germany, whereas support for employment-specific antidiscrimination laws was lower in Germany than in the US and Iceland. Total support for weight-related antidiscrimination policies was significantly predicted by lower age, female gender, obese weight status, residence in West Germany, church membership, and readiness to vote in elections. CONCLUSION: German support for weight-related antidiscrimination policies is moderate. Increasing awareness about weight-related discrimination and laws prohibiting this behavior may help to promote policy acceptance.
OBJECTIVE: Weight-related discrimination is prevalent and associated with health impairments for those who are targeted, which underscores the need of antidiscrimination legislation. This study is the first to examine public support of weight-related antidiscrimination laws or policies in Germany, compared to the US and Iceland. METHODS: In a representative German population sample (N = 2,513), public support for general and employment-specific weight-related antidiscrimination policies, weight-based victimization, and weight bias internalization were measured through established self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Half of the German population sample agreed with antidiscrimination policies. General antidiscrimination laws received lower support than employment-specific laws. Support for policies considering obesity a physical disability was greatest in Germany, whereas support for employment-specific antidiscrimination laws was lower in Germany than in the US and Iceland. Total support for weight-related antidiscrimination policies was significantly predicted by lower age, female gender, obese weight status, residence in West Germany, church membership, and readiness to vote in elections. CONCLUSION: German support for weight-related antidiscrimination policies is moderate. Increasing awareness about weight-related discrimination and laws prohibiting this behavior may help to promote policy acceptance.
Authors: Rebecca M Puhl; Leah M Lessard; Rebecca L Pearl; Allison Grupski; Gary D Foster Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2021-10-05 Impact factor: 5.002
Authors: Rebecca M Puhl; David E Cummings; Francesco Rubino; Robert H Eckel; Donna H Ryan; Jeffrey I Mechanick; Joe Nadglowski; Ximena Ramos Salas; Phillip R Schauer; Douglas Twenefour; Caroline M Apovian; Louis J Aronne; Rachel L Batterham; Hans-Rudolph Berthoud; Camilo Boza; Luca Busetto; Dror Dicker; Mary De Groot; Daniel Eisenberg; Stuart W Flint; Terry T Huang; Lee M Kaplan; John P Kirwan; Judith Korner; Ted K Kyle; Blandine Laferrère; Carel W le Roux; LaShawn McIver; Geltrude Mingrone; Patricia Nece; Tirissa J Reid; Ann M Rogers; Michael Rosenbaum; Randy J Seeley; Antonio J Torres; John B Dixon Journal: Nat Med Date: 2020-03-04 Impact factor: 53.440