Aesthetic patrol, obesity, and the violation of fundamental rights: an analysis of fatphobia and normative deficiency

Abstract

Abstract: This article delves deeper into the analysis of the relationship between aesthetic pressure ("aesthetic policing"), obesity, and fatphobia, from the perspective of Fundamental Rights. It will discuss how the stigmatization of individuals with obesity represents a direct violation of their human dignity and freedom, driven by normative aesthetic standards and the lack of protective legal norms. The main objective is to substantiate the need to recognize obesity as a condition requiring protection against discrimination, thus aligning public health with a human rights approach. The central hypothesis of the study is that the stigmatization of individuals with obesity represents a direct violation of their human dignity and freedom, being driven by normative aesthetic standards and the absence of protective legal norms. The method used for the research was a bibliographic review. The results indicate that the stigmatization of individuals with obesity directly violates their dignity and freedom, driven by normative aesthetic standards and the lack of protective legal norms. It was observed that fatphobia manifests in social, media, and health contexts, generating psychosocial implications and difficulties in accessing healthcare. The results demonstrated that the stigmatization of individuals with obesity, driven by aesthetic standards and the lack of protective norms, indeed violates their human dignity and freedom, confirming the central hypothesis. The study observed the widespread manifestation of fatphobia in social, media, and health contexts, with significant psychosocial implications and difficulties in accessing healthcare.