A new guide issued by University of California, Davis (UC Davis) aims to combat “weight stigma” on campus by defining terms such as “fatphobia” and recommending practices intended to foster inclusive spaces. This move raises concerns about academic freedom, definitions of discrimination, and the balance between respect and responsibility in higher education.
The guide published by UC Davis’ Student Health & Counseling Services defines “weight stigma” as discrimination against those “perceived to carry excess weight.” It frames the issue as pervasive—in employment, education, housing, public transportation and more. Among its suggestions: for those in “smaller” bodies to refrain from giving unsolicited diet or fitness advice, use “non‑polarizing language about bodies and food,” and correct others displaying weight bias.
For those in “larger” bodies, the guide advises seeking spaces where “larger folks can be seen and feel acknowledged” and alerting healthcare providers about weight bias. On a societal level, it recommends shopping at size‑inclusive clothing stores, including diverse body‑types in marketing, and petitioning for “weight‑inclusive training and care for healthcare professionals.”
One notable portion critiques the use of Body Mass Index (BMI), claiming its “effectiveness for people of color has been debated, because it was developed based on a sample of white, European men.” The guide also defines “fat” as an adjective that “can be used by someone to describe their own body in a liberating way,” and “fatphobia” as “the fear and/or hatred of fat bodies.”
In a broader cultural sense, the case at UC Davis signals how universities are expanding definitions of discrimination and deploying “safe space” tactics beyond race and gender, into body size and shape. This shift may reflect a growing tendency to view personal traits as protected statuses—raising questions about where institutional support should reinforce personal accountability and where it should protect individuals from genuine bias.
