Prejudice and Discrimination towards Mixed-Weight Relationships

What is it about?

Across four studies, we found that people dislike mixed-weight couples much more than healthy-weight or overweight couples. When people play matchmaker, they pair people together on the basis of similar weight and dislike mixed-weight couples being paired together. When people offer dating advice, they recommend that mixed-weight couples date in private places, go to cheap restaurants, avoid any displays of affection, and delay introductions to their friends and family. For matched-weight couples (i.e., two healthy-weight or overweight partners), people offer much better dating advice. In fact, mixed-weight prejudice and discrimination is greatest for those who think mixed-weight couples are "dating outside of their league."

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Why is it important?

Much like interracial and age-gap relationships, people dislike mixed-weight more than matched-weight couples. They expressed prejudice and discrimination. This research has clear implications for romantic couples, society's perception of "differences" within relationships, and poor matchmaking and dating advice people offer mixed-weight couples.