Why Are Schools Ignoring the #1 Reason Kids Get Bullied?

by Mandy Morgan June 2, 2025

“It’s just banter.” That’s what a group of 14-year-olds told researchers when asked about weight-based bullying in their school. Calling someone “fat” wasn’t considered serious—it was routine. Teachers rarely stepped in. But here’s the problem: being bullied for weight isn’t just hurtful. It’s dangerous. It’s linked to self-harm, depression, skipping school, and even gaining more weight over time.

You read that right—weight is the number one reason kids get bullied, and yet almost no school in the UK has a policy to address it.

The Invisible Bully

A 2025 study out of southwest England reviewed 255 school anti-bullying policies. What they found was shocking:
🔹 94.5% of policies mentioned race-based bullying
🔹 93.3% mentioned bullying based on sexual orientation
🔹 85.9% mentioned gender-based bullying
🔹 But only 6.7% mentioned weight-related bullying

Let that sink in.

Even though one in three children in the UK is living with overweight or obesity, and even though being bullied for your weight is more common than being bullied for your race, religion, or sexual orientation, most schools remain silent.

Why This Matters

Weight-related bullying doesn’t end at the school gate. Kids who are teased for their weight are:

• 2–3 times more likely to consider or attempt suicide
• More likely to gain weight over time
• More likely to miss school and perform poorly academically

This isn’t just about hurt feelings. It’s about mental health, education, and long-term well-being. The silence in school policies sends a clear message to students: “Your pain isn’t important.”

“Appearance” Isn’t Enough

Nearly half of schools did mention bullying based on “appearance.” That might sound inclusive—but it’s not specific. “Appearance” could mean hair color, clothing, or even wearing glasses. Research shows that vague terms like ‘appearance’ don’t work. When schools spell out “weight-based bullying,” students and staff are far more likely to recognize and stop it.

In U.S. states where laws specifically mention weight, rates of bullying go down. Teachers intervene more. Bias goes down. Students feel safer.

Why Don’t Schools Include It?

One reason? Weight isn’t listed as a “protected characteristic” under the UK Equality Act. So schools aren’t legally required to include it. Another reason might be discomfort. Teachers and administrators may not feel confident addressing weight stigma—or may even carry some of that bias themselves.

But here’s a wake-up call: teen pregnancy and marital status were mentioned in more school policies than weight, even though pregnancy under 16 is almost nonexistent in the UK, and marriage is illegal for anyone under 18.

What Kids Say

The researchers didn’t just look at policies—they also talked to kids. Members of the Bristol Youth Advisory Group, ages 10–16, said teachers often brush off weight-based insults as jokes. Racist slurs get immediate consequences. But calling someone “fat”? That’s tolerated.

Their feedback helped shape the study and emphasized a painful truth: weight stigma is the last acceptable form of discrimination in schools.

What Can Parents and Educators Do?

Here are three action steps we can all take today:

✅ Update Policies

If you’re a school leader, review your anti-bullying policy. Does it specifically mention weight or body size? If not, it’s time to change that. Make it explicit. Let students know they’re protected.

✅ Train Staff

Teachers want to help—but many don’t know how. Training on how to identify and respond to weight-based bullying should be standard, just like it is for racism or homophobia.

✅ Empower Students

Host workshops. Start conversations. Make sure students understand that bullying based on body size is never just banter.

Let’s Talk About It

This isn’t just a school issue—it’s a community one. Let’s start the conversation.

💬 What’s the biggest mental health challenge you see in schools today?
💬 How can schools better support students’ emotional well-being?
💬 What’s one school psychology insight that changed the way you parent or teach?

If you care about kids’ mental health, this matters. Let’s stop pretending weight-based bullying doesn’t exist. Let’s name it, fight it, and finally take it seriously.

Share this post, tag a teacher or principal, and let’s push for real change.

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