Background: Having obesity or excess weight is one of the most common causes of why children are bullied at school. Over 30% of girls and 24% of boys with excess weight report daily bullying, teasing and rejection. Weight bias and weight-based bullying can dramatically decrease quality of life and have devastating consequences on their development and well-being, such as poor mental and physical health, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety.

Every child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. But currently, only three states provide protections against weight-based bullying in schools: Maine, New Hampshire and New York. By implementing protections against weight-based bullying, states can help create a safe environment for students, allowing them to focus on their education and growth without fear of harassment.

Take Action Now: Use OAC’s advocacy tool below to urge your Governor and Chief State School Officer to add weight-based bullying protections to school conduct policies.

It’s Easy to Advocate: Use our easy automated message generator below to get started. You’ll find an easy-to-use template letter to get you started, and we encourage you to personalize this letter before sending by including your personal story.

Additional Resources

• Model School-Based Anti-Bullying Policy – Rudd Center
• Bullying Resources – Rudd Center
• OAC Childhood Obesity Resources

Send A Letter Now And Help Stop Weight-based Bullying!