Earlier this year, Massachusetts legislators introduced a bill that would prohibit weight-based discrimination in the workplace. This type of legislation isn’t new—since the late 1990s, Massachusetts lawmakers have repeatedly proposed similar measures, but none has advanced to a vote. And because federal civil rights laws, including Title VII, still don’t prohibit weight discrimination, Massachusetts employers remain legally free to fire, refuse to hire, or pay employees less solely based on their weight.

Notably, even as other forms of workplace discrimination have declined, anti-fat bias has surged. (For more on why many advocates prefer using the word “fat,” see this helpful explanation.) More than 40% of Americans report experiencing weight-based stigma at some point in their lives, and studies consistently link higher body weight with lower wages, fewer hiring opportunities, and diminished career advancement. As a result, employees experiencing weight discrimination face wage penalties that compound over time as bias subtly influences countless career decisions. Moreover, because women of color are more likely to be classified under current medical standards as “overweight,” they disproportionately bear the burden of anti-fat bias, further compounding the gender- and race-based penalties they face in the workplace.

Massachusetts lawmakers aren’t alone in attempting to address this issue. Delaware recently introduced comprehensive legislation prohibiting...

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