title: Public Support for Weight-Related Antidiscrimination Laws and Policies.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  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.affiliation: Integrated Research and Treatment Center AdiposityDiseases, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilbert
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmutzer
authors.forename: Sigrun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danielsdottir
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puhl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D004651:Employment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D011287:Prejudice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011639:Public Opinion; D011640:Public Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Antidiscrimination laws; Discrimination; Obesity; Public support; Stigma