Take Action!
Help Stop Weight-Based Bullying!
How Can You Help?
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.
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. 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.