Discrimination against overweight people is as prevalent as racial discrimination

This article was quite intriguing. Personally, I have recently experienced a series of unfortunate circumstances relative to my size and weight. It was via means of an immediate Supervisor whom I worked for, and also my Director. I decided to resign from my position due the harassment and threats. Human Resources stated that they would investigate, but I have not heard anything back relative to the situation. I am doubtful as to their rectifying the situation and can only pray that it does not happen to anyone else. Please note that I am not filing a lawsuit as that is not the solution, however, bringing awareness to this problem is. I will do what I can to raise such awareness and continue to research this aspect of discrimination.

If anyone should have further questions or would like to make their experience heard, please feel free to respond to this thread. Thank you.

I am an Executive Assistant. Many, many times I have not been hired because of my weight. I have an excellent resume and have been told this several times by HR Directors, by senior-level executives and staffing agencies. When I was a size 8, I could get another job in 2 weeks. Now, it takes up to a year and even then I get temporary work. I think age discrimination has something to do with it as well, as I am over 40 and now "look" like I'm about 45.

I am 53 years old and depressed that isn't everything about myself but for now it's number 2 on my list besides being boxy or wide. Recently I went into a store I go in a lot they have a small store and a big store for small and big kind of people. I picked out a cute top the peasant look they call it and put it to the side I was going to buy it after I picked out another top so I can get the $10.00 deal. I was looking around and heard one of the sales people talking about the shirt and how she would not wear it because it makes people that are big or boxy look bigger or boxier. Not to let her know I was pissed I said I love this look which I really do. You see she didn't know I was behind her as she looked around very slowly once around the left and once around the right that's when she knew I heard her. Well after I told one of the other sales people, they wanted to address the issue but I said I would call the corperate office and explain myself. I did alright they sent me a 30% off coupon for their clothes in the small store but they don't fit my bottom and the big store won't fit my top, why couldn't they send me at least 2 coupons so I'll be evened out? Better yet save the 30% because if they keep hiring people who discriminate against fat people they need to add another 70% in the lawyers fees to get them out of a whole lot of big mouth trouble. Yes I'm mad and yes I wish I could hire a lawyer only if I thought I would win..

I personally am not overweight, in fact the opposite i'm in shape, but I personally love big people, they usually are nicer than most people and don't look bad at all, over half my friends family, and my girlfriend is overwieght - that just makes me love 'em that much more. And personally, girls and guys shouldn't get discriminated people look better with a lil more meat. My opinion, only reason i'm not big is due to my lifestyle so I won't jugde theirs!

Hi there, I am 30 years old and about 30kg overweight. I work with a 45 year old women who is obsessed with health and constantly makes remarks that overweight people are the way they are as they live unhealthy and eat too much fat. This turned into a huge argument and i am thinking of making a complaint against her.

I eat whatever I want, however I exercise a lot. And I am happy I can be slim and tight Nothing is more precious than slim and tight body and everyone can reach it with more will (excluding these who put on weight due to medicines, then their situation is understandable). But other people do not have any excuses.

Anna, that is one of the most closed minded, judgmental statements I have ever read.  I am not an overweight person, however, I am not "slim and tight" anymore either as I am almost 40 years old and have 2 children.  Instead of judging others for something you obviously have no idea about, why don't you try researching the topic?  That would make you look much less shallow and a little more educated that you appear to be at this point.

Furthermore, if you think that having a slim tight body is the most precious thing in your life....you are in a sad state.  There are so many things that are more important that than.  Children, husband, and family would be some of them.  

Plz somebody tell these judgemental people to give it a rest already.I work with a woman ,yes a woman who makes comments on my weight all the time.I get upset about it but have a boss who would probably agree with her.I really think it is so sad when women want to put other women down about their weight,look who says that this woman won't end up on meds or have something happen to her in the future out of her control that causes a weight gain.God forbid,anyway she is an unhappy person and I would rather be overweight and happy and treat others as nice as possible any day!! I really hope some day for people to be able to work with others without the injustice of these types of discrimination, and be able to be taken seriously when you ask for help about these situations in the workplace.

I think yhat overweight people should organize into an association to promote understanding of weight issues and combat the types of steriotypes and attitudes exhibited by Anna ( who is typical).  The image of "perfect body type" is generated in Hollywood among those who profit financially from steriotyping human beings and by eletists with political objectives.  I read somewhere that only about 3 percent of the population has an "ectomorphic" (slim) body type. Yet this body-type is thrust upon the populace constituting the other 97 percent.  I think it is also a product of the narrow minded thinking of our society which places so much value on appearance to the exclusuin of character or substance.  I think that all of these issues are important issues that could best be addressed by overweight people and non-ectmorphs forming a non-profit legal association to concentrate an effort to address this important arwa of discrimination as it doubtlessly affect millions of people who are being singled out even by government for discriminatory treatment.

I found this organization which, I think, says it very well.  
"Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!
NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

Visit their site at:  http://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/index.html

NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.