Body size cannot tell you how fit someone is, but it shapes how people are judged

The assertion that body size alone cannot determine an individual's fitness level is underscored by the scrutiny faced by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a post featuring two cadets from a Canadian youth program, Hegseth's caption was seen as mocking the appearance of a teenage cadet receiving a medal. The civilian Army Cadet League of Canada accused Hegseth of online harassment, deeming derogatory comments towards young people striving to better themselves unacceptable.

Hegseth's past statements, linking appearance with military fitness, have fueled this criticism. Despite military roles demanding considerable physical fitness, the post provided no insight into the cadets' abilities. This incident ignited a broader discussion on weight stigma, where people with obesity are often stereotyped as lazy or lacking self-control, irrespective of their actions or health status.

An anonymous study by my colleagues and me involved 143 adults who viewed photographs of people either healthy weight or living with obesity, engaged in various activities. Participants were more critical of obese individuals, even when a healthy-weight person was shown doing the same activity. For instance, a healthy-weight exerciser might be described as healthy or improving, while an obese individual doing the same activity was more likely to be labeled as unhappy or unhealthy.

Moreover, when someone with obesity was depicted sitting down, participants were more likely to describe them as lazy. Similarly, in photos involving food, people with obesity were more often associated with appearance, lifestyle, and character assumptions, rather than focusing on their activities or social settings. These findings suggest that body size significantly influences how people perceive and interpret behavior, potentially impacting self-image, social interactions, and even healthcare-seeking behavior.