As noted in the APA Monitor on Psychology, “sizeism is one of the most deeply entrenched stigmas in today’s society, partly because of sociocultural ideals tying thinness to core American values such as hard work and individualism.”
Studies show that stereotypical beliefs about the work-related abilities and qualities of obese/overweight individuals include: belief in lower job performance, poorer work habits, lower leadership potential, fewer interpersonal skills, lack of self-discipline, and lower intelligence. These negative perceptions have been tied to differences in hiring, income, and other job-related outcomes for people of above average body size; “individuals with a BMI above 35 were 84% more likely to report job-related discrimination as persons of an average weight.”
For these reasons, the use of language that is inclusive and doesn’t reinforce body size stigma is especially important.