Throughout history, certain medical conditions have been associated with major social stigmas — from leprosy and HIV to drug addictions. But as our medical knowledge grows, we redefine our views, eliminate many of the negative stereotypes, and cast a more compassionate light on these serious illnesses.

There is at least one condition that has yet to lose its negative connotations: morbid obesity. In America, being obese carries a major social stigma. It affects relationships with ...

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