Body Size and Appearance Inclusion in Ontario Human Rights Code

Minister of Education, Hon. Paul Calandra

Minister of Health, Hon. Sylvia Jones

Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, Hon. David Piccini 

Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, Hon. Charmaine A. Williams

Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services, Hon. Michael Parsa

Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, Hon. Nolan Quinn

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Hon. Stan Cho

Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, Hon. Greg Rickford

Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Doug Ford

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Hon. Rob Flack

cc Hon. Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions 

cc ALL Ministers, MPPs

December 3, 2025

Dear Ministers,

We are writing to ask for the introduction of a Bill to make body size and appearance a protected ground in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Protections against body size discrimination will:

1. Enhance quality of life and reduce discrimination for people living in larger bodies;
2. Ensure that Ontarians of all body sizes can reach their economic potential;
3. Create a more equitable society.

This letter was written by Ontarians Against Weight Discrimination, a coalition of healthcare professionals and academics who work with people living in larger bodies that have experienced weight-based discrimination. Everyone who participated in the writing and consultation of this letter lives and works in the province of Ontario. We’ve partnered with Ontario Dietitians in Public Health to send this letter as it is an issue of public health importance.

This letter will:

• Raise awareness about the detrimental impacts of weight-based discrimination on Ontarians;
• Raise awareness of the economic cost of weight-based discrimination; and
• Advocate for the inclusion of size and appearance as a protected ground in the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Issue Overview

The Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) “recognizes the dignity and worth of every person to provide for equal rights and opportunities without discrimination.”¹ Strong evidence demonstrates that weight-based discrimination occurs in education, employment, and health care. Including size and appearance as a protected ground in the OHRC would help ensure that individuals of all body sizes receive the dignity and equality they deserve, while also affirming that weight bias and discrimination are unacceptable.²

The Joint International Consensus Statement for Ending the Stigma of Obesity recommends:

1. “Strong and clear policies that prohibit weight-based discrimination”; and
2. “Policies and legislation to prohibit weight discrimination are an important and timely priority to reduce or eliminate weight-based inequities” and to facilitate a new public narrative that is consistent with modern scientific knowledge.³

Jurisdictions, such as Reykjavík, Iceland, the states of Michigan, Washington, Massachusetts, Florida in the United States, as well as New York City, have already taken action to address weight and size-based discrimination in their human rights policies.^2,4,5 In Canada, Ontario has an opportunity to be a leader in protecting individuals in larger bodies from discrimination by becoming the first province to include larger bodied people in their human rights code.

Definition of terms

• Weight Bias: negative attitudes and beliefs towards individuals based on their weight, size, shape, appearance, or Body Mass Index (BMI).^6,7
• Weight Stigma: occurs when people are labelled and stereotyped based on their body size and appearance.⁸
• Weight-based Discrimination: results of weight bias and weight stigma, where actions or decisions by those in power lead to the unjust treatment of people in larger bodies.⁹

Weight Discrimination is a Systemic Issue

A fundamental driver of weight-based discrimination is the widely held belief that individuals in larger bodies are personally responsible for their size. However, weight and health are determined and reinforced by many structural and systemic factors beyond the individual. Those most impacted by weight discrimination live at multiple intersections of identity, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, and/or ability.¹⁰ Regardless of why people are in larger bodies, everyone deserves dignity, safety, equal rights and opportunities without discrimination.

Economic Impact

Weight-based discrimination is a social injustice that presents an economic burden to individuals and to the province by perpetuating employment, health care, and educational inequities.

Employment: Weight bias and weight-based discrimination are present at every stage of the employment cycle. It impacts employer hiring, salary, promotion, and termination decisions.^9,11 Research shows that individuals living in larger bodies are often denied promotions, offered lower financial compensation, spend fewer years employed, and have higher unemployment, absences, and termination rates overall.^9,11

Consequences of weight bias and discrimination in employment impact one’s contribution to the broader provincial economy by:

• Reducing job performance overall.^9,11
• Limiting individuals’ ability to reach full-wage-earning potential and promotions.^9,11
• Negatively impacting interpersonal interactions in the workplace.
  • 54% of adults who live in larger bodies report being stigmatized by coworkers.¹²

Addressing weight-based discrimination in the workplace would increase the likelihood that all Ontarians would reach their full wage-earning potential.

Health Care: Weight stigma among health professionals impacts patients negatively and reduces quality of care received.^9,11,13 Weight-biased attitudes have been found among numerous health care professionals in various roles. In Canada, 64% of adults with higher body weight report experiencing weight bias from a health care professional.¹²

Consequences of weight bias and stigma in health care:

• Weight stigmatization on its own is associated with poorer health outcomes as individuals are:
  • Less likely to engage in health behaviours, including eating well and being active, regardless of body size.^14,15
  • More likely to experience mental health challenges, including eating disorders, which may increase health care utilization.^9,11
• Individuals with higher body weights may avoid or delay accessing health services, and not participate in regular preventive health screening^9,11 for fear of experiencing weight bias and stigma.¹⁶ This includes:
  • Preventing early diagnosis and treatment which may lead to more invasive and costly interventions later on in life.^{16, 17}
  • Receiving derogatory comments about weight while visiting for an unrelated health concern, and being denied treatment until weight is lost.
    • Constant focus on weight loss actively excludes people in larger bodies from receiving eating disorder treatment, fertility treatment, and life-enhancing surgical procedures including transplants, joint replacements, and others.

Addressing weight bias could indirectly reduce current costs on the public health system by reducing disparities in access to medical care and improving wellbeing.¹⁸ 

Education: Weight bias impacts educational attainment for individuals in larger bodies.^9,11  Weight-based stigmatization is the most common cause of bullying in schools and is associated with poor academic performance, mental health concerns, and avoidance of health care.^12,19

Consequences of weight bias in the education system:

Weight bias negatively impacts educational attainment for individuals in larger bodies, contributing to educational disparities related to weight status.^9,11

• Elementary school children with larger bodies have a 63% higher risk of being bullied.²⁰
• Weight bias among educators influences student academic performance and the educator’s assessment of individuals with larger bodies, as early as elementary school.⁹

Education is recognized as a social determinant of health²¹; therefore, policies that fight weight-based discrimination support public health initiatives to reduce health disparities. In addition to this, a safe school environment, free of weight-based discrimination, is key to helping students reach their academic potential, which in turn positively impacts future employment opportunities.²² 

Call to Action

We strongly urge that the provincial government support the physical, mental, social, and financial well-being of Ontarians and the economic health of our communities and province. We need to take action to address the deeply entrenched attitudes, beliefs, and practices that perpetuate weight-based discrimination, in our employment, health care, and education systems. We were pleased to see the 2020 passing of bipartisan Bill 61 (Eating Disorders Awareness Week in Ontario), which addresses one of the consequences of size and appearance-based discrimination.¹⁷ Let us build on this momentum and protect the rights of all Ontarians by prohibiting discrimination against people based on their size or appearance.

To address the systemic issue of weight-based discrimination:

• Add size and appearance as a protected ground to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Mandate workplace training on weight-based discrimination across all professions, particularly employment, health care, and education
• Support research on the impact of weight bias, weight stigma, and weight-based discrimination
• Continue to support efforts that measure the economic impact of weight bias in employment, health care, and educational sectors.

The COVID-19 pandemic narrative around weight- with communications about increased morbidity and mortality, fear-mongering about isolation and quarantine weight gain, occurring alongside increased weight-based discrimination, weight preoccupation, and disordered eating behaviours¹³ have further increased the need for weight stigma to be addressed on a larger scale.  As society deals with the backlog of living through the pandemic, this is an important issue that needs to be placed at the forefront.

We envision an Ontario where people of all body sizes have equal opportunities to reach their full potential. We would like to meet with the addressed and any other interested Ministers to realize this vision and discuss how we can work together to reduce weight-based discrimination against Ontarians. Please respond to this letter to schedule a meeting by January 15, 2026.

Sincerely,

Luisa Magalhaes, RD, MHSc

Chair, Ontario Dietitians in Public Health

executive@odph.ca

Attached – List of Signatories (241)

 References

1. Ontario. Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H. 19.Available from: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h19
2. Hunger JM, Smith JP, Tomiyana AJ. An Evidence-Based Rationale for Adopting Weight-Inclusive Health Policy. Social Issues and Policy Review. 2020; 14(1): 73-107.
3. Rubino, F, Puhl, RM, Cummings, DE et al. Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity. Nat Med 26, 485–497 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0803-x
4. State of Michigan. Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act. Available from: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/act_453_elliott_larsen_8772_7.pdf
5. The City of Reykjavik Human Rights Office. The City of Reykjavik’s Human Rights Policy. Available from: https://reykjavik.is/sites/default/files/ymis_skjol/skjol_utgefid_efni/stefna_mannr_250518_loka.pdf
6. Puhl, R. M., Andreyeva, T., & Brownell, K. D. (2008). Perceptions of weight discrimination: prevalence and comparison to race and gender discrimination in America. International journal of obesity (2005), 32(6), 992–1000. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.22
7. Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH). Addressing Weight Bias: A Call to Action. 2019. Retrieved from https://www.odph.ca/upload/membership/document/2019-10/addressing-weight-bias-fact-sheet-final.pdf (Accessed Nov 2024)
8. Practice-Based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN). Weight Stigma Background. December 2019. Retrieved from https://www.pennutrition.com/KnowledgePathway.aspx?kpid=803&trcatid=38&trid=28010
9. ​​Pearl, RL. Weight bias and stigma: public health implications and structural solutions. Social Issues and Policy Review. 2018; 12, 146-182. Available from: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5afd1266fcf7fd79fc9837b4/t/5c841887e2c48349ec723cc2/1552160904182/weight+bias+and+stigma+-+public+health+implications.pdf
10. Nutter S, Russell-Mayhew S, Alberga S  et al. Positioning of Weight Bias: Moving towards Social Justice. Journal of Obesity. 2016. Available from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobe/2016/3753650/
11. Puhl RM, Heuer CA. The Stigma of Obesity: A Review and Update. Obesity. 2009;17(6).
12. Puhl RM, King KM. Weight discrimination and bullying. Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2013; 117-127.
13. Wu Y, Berry DC. Impact of weight stigma on physiological and psychological health outcomes for overweight and obese adults: A systematic review. J Adv Nurse. 2018; 74:1030-1042. 
14. Puhl R, Suh Y. Health Consequences of Weight Stigma: Implications for Obesity Prevention and Treatment. Curr Obese Rep. 2015; 4: 182-190.
15. Vartanian LR, Porter AM. Weight stigma and eating behavior: A review of the literature. Appetite. 2016;102:3-14.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.01.034.
16. Obesity Canada. Weight Bias, Obesity Stigma and COVID-19: Call to Action. Available from: http://obesitycanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/WeightBias-Stigma-Covid-9.pdf
17. Beckie, TM. A systematic review of allostatic load, health, and health disparities. Biological Research for Nursing. 2012; 14(4), 311–346. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800412455688
18. Singh, K, Russell-Mayhew, S, von Ranson, K, & McLaren, L. Is there more to the equation? Weight bias and the costs of obesity. Canadian journal of public health. 2019; 110(1), 17–20. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-018-0146-2
19. Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. School Health Guideline, 2018. Available from: https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/docs/protocols_guidelines/School_Health_Guideline_2018.pdf
20. Obesity Canada. Overcoming weight bias: do you have it in you? 2018. Available from: https://obesitycanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Overcoming-Weight-Bias-11×17-May-2018-Eng-Fr4.pdf
21. Government of Canada. Social determinants of health and health inequalities. 2022. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html
22. Nutter, S., Ireland, A., Alberga, A. S., Brun, I., Lefebvre, D., Hayden, K. A., & Russell-Mayhew, S. (2019). Weight Bias in Educational Settings: a Systematic Review. Current obesity reports, 8(2), 185–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-019-00330-8
23. Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Bill 61, Eating Disorders Awareness Week Act, 2020. https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-61
24. Pearl RL, Schulte EM. Weight Bias During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current obesity reports. 2021; 10(2): 181-190.