What term describes the social rejection of people who do not conform to norms about body weight and size?

• A. Body size hostility
• B. Weight stigma
• C. Body image bias
• D. Appearance discrimination

Answer: (B)

Weight stigma describes the social rejection and devaluation directed at people who don’t conform to society’s norms about weight and size. When weight stigma is present, individuals may face negative stereotypes, social exclusion, and unfair treatment in areas like health care, employment, and social interactions simply because of their body weight. The term is the best fit because it captures both the attitude (stigma) and the specific target (weight), highlighting how society stigmatizes weight.

Other terms are less precise for this concept. Body size hostility implies active hostility rather than the broader social rejection captured by stigma. Body image bias focuses on judgments about bodies, which may be internalized or directed at others’ appearances but isn’t specifically about social rejection tied to weight norms. Appearance discrimination is broader, describing discrimination based on any appearance, while weight stigma specifically targets weight and size.