Fact check: Obesity is not yet a protected attribute in the United States. So, as long as reason is allowed a foothold in government regulation, we can discriminate against individuals based on their tendency to cram their gullets with fatty foods.

1. Summary of the results

The analyses unanimously confirm that obesity is not a protected attribute at the federal level in the United States ^{[1] [2] [1]}. Currently, Michigan is the only state with comprehensive anti-weight discrimination legislation ^[1], while a few cities like San Francisco and Santa Cruz have implemented local protections ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial pieces of context:

• Weight discrimination has been increasing significantly over time, with rates rising from 7% in 1995-1996 to 12% in 2004-2006 ^[1]
• Employees classified as obese are 37 times more likely to report employment discrimination ^[2]
• There have been some legal developments through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which now provides limited protection for severely obese individuals ^[3]
• Legislative efforts are ongoing, with states like Massachusetts introducing bills to prohibit body size discrimination as recently as 2022 ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains several problematic elements:

• The use of derogatory language ("cram their gullets") demonstrates clear bias and contributes to the stigmatization of individuals with obesity
• The statement oversimplifies a complex issue by suggesting that weight discrimination is purely a matter of "reason" in government regulation
• It fails to acknowledge that weight discrimination is a documented form of workplace discrimination with measurable negative impacts ^[2]
• The statement ignores the fact that some jurisdictions have already recognized the need for legal protections against weight discrimination, suggesting that there are valid reasons for such protections ^{[1] [1]}

Those who benefit from maintaining weight discrimination as legal might include:

• Employers who wish to maintain discriminatory hiring practices
• Insurance companies that charge higher premiums based on weight
• The diet and weight loss industry, which profits from weight stigma and discrimination