What term describes social disapproval of individuals based on body size or weight?

• A. Bodyweight discrimination
• B. Weight bias
• C. Weight stigma
• D. Appearance prejudice

Answer: (C)

Weight stigma describes the social devaluation and disapproval that people encounter because of their body size or weight. It captures not just negative beliefs but how society treats individuals—stereotypes, social exclusion, and ridicule—based on weight, which is exactly what social disapproval implies. While weight bias refers to attitudes or prejudgments and bodyweight discrimination emphasizes unfair treatment or policy harms, neither fully names the social process of devaluing someone because of weight as stigma does. Appearance prejudice is too broad, since it could refer to many aspects of appearance, not specifically weight.