The fattest towns in England have been revealed (Picture: PA)

Fat shamers could be given the same treatment as sexists and racists if a group of obesity researchers get their way.

Dr Sarah Jackson, from University College London, said fattism is real and should fall under discrimination law that protects people from being targeted for their race, age or gender.

In a study of 5,000 adults she found that overweight people who had been victimised had a lower quality of life and showed signs of depression.

Among the examples of fattism, she said people were:


Given poorer service

Joked about threatened

Thought to be less intelligent

MORE: ‘For a lot of people it’s not a choice': White Dee defends the benefits lifestyle as she reveals political ambitions



MORE: Recovering anorexic sickened to find her recovery pictures were used in a weight loss story

Dr Jackson told the Daily Mail: ‘In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 legally protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, or gender reassignment; making it clear that discriminatory behaviour of this nature is not to be accepted.

‘However, our results indicate that discriminatory experiences contribute to poorer psychological wellbeing in individuals with obesity, but there are currently no laws prohibiting weight discrimination.

‘This might send the message to people that weight discrimination is socially acceptable.’