US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced criticism after sharing a photo of two individuals in uniform from a Canadian youth cadet program, captioning it "this is real." The image depicted a teenage cadet receiving a medal from a volunteer instructor. The post was widely seen as mocking the individuals' appearance, leading the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada to accuse Hegseth of online harassment. They argued that derogatory remarks directed at young people striving to improve themselves and serve their communities were unacceptable. Hegseth has previously linked physical appearance with military fitness. When introducing stricter fitness requirements in 2025, he stated that it was "completely unacceptable" to see "fat generals and admirals" in positions of command. While physical fitness is essential in many military roles, Hegseth’s social media post did not provide any information about the abilities or fitness of the people in the photograph. Instead, it encouraged viewers to make assumptions based solely on their appearance. Research has shown that people with obesity are often viewed more negatively than those of a healthy weight when performing the same activities. In a study, 143 adults were shown photos of people either of a healthy weight or living with obesity, engaged in activities like eating, exercising, or sitting. Participants' descriptions were more negative when the person in the photo had obesity, even if they were doing the same activity as someone of a healthy weight. For example, a person of a healthy weight exercising was often described as healthy or trying to improve themselves, while someone with obesity doing the same might be seen as unhappy or unhealthy. The study found that participants focused more on the activity itself when viewing people of a healthy weight, but when looking at people with obesity, they were more likely to focus on appearance and make assumptions about lifestyle or character. Body size appeared to influence how people interpreted the activity and the assumptions they made about the person doing it. However, the study had limitations, including a small sample size and a lack of diversity among participants, who were mostly white, women, and highly educated. Larger, more diverse studies are needed to better understand these attitudes. Weight stigma involves negative stereotypes and unfair treatment based on body weight, often leading to assumptions about a person's character or behavior. People with obesity are frequently stereotyped as lazy or lacking self-control, regardless of their actual behavior or health. Some argue that shame might motivate weight loss, but research shows that weight stigma is linked to weight gain and unhealthy eating patterns, including binge eating and severe restriction. In healthcare, weight stigma can lead to patients avoiding medical help due to negative experiences with clinicians or uncomfortable interactions. While the studies discussed here do not prove causation, they highlight how body size can influence perceptions and impact people's willingness to seek medical care.