Fact check: Obesity is not yet a protected attribute in the United States. Thankfully, society is still allowed to view it as a stigma.

1. Summary of the results

The statement is technically correct but lacks crucial context. While obesity is indeed not a federally protected attribute in the United States ^{[1] [2]}, the legal landscape is actively evolving. Currently, Michigan is the only state with an anti-weight discrimination law, though several cities including San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Binghamton, Madison, and Urbana have enacted local protections ^[2]. New York City is also considering legislation to prohibit discrimination based on weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• Health conditions contributing to obesity may already be protected under existing federal legislation like the Family and Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act ^[3]
• The fat acceptance movement has been actively working to challenge discrimination practices ^[1]
• Medical professionals are increasingly recognizing the need to reduce weight-based bias in healthcare settings ^[4]
• Weight discrimination remains a significant issue affecting employment, healthcare access, and other social settings ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement contains several problematic elements:

• The use of "thankfully" reveals a clear bias and endorsement of discrimination
• The phrase "allowed to view it as a stigma" misrepresents the evolving legal and social landscape where multiple jurisdictions are actively working to prohibit such discrimination ^{[3] [1]}
• The statement ignores the harmful impacts of weight stigma in healthcare and society ^[4]

Those who benefit from maintaining weight stigma often include:

• Diet industry companies
• Weight loss program providers
• Certain employers who may discriminate in hiring practices
• Healthcare providers who may charge higher premiums based on weight

Meanwhile, efforts to reduce weight discrimination are supported by:

• Medical professionals working to improve healthcare access
• Civil rights advocates
• Employment equality organizations
• Public health experts focused on holistic health outcomes