EU court: Obesity 'could be a disability'

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled Thursday that obesity "could be a disability" in terms of legislation and workers' rights, the BBC reports.

The case was brought by Karsten Kaltoft, a Danish child-care worker who weighs more than 350 pounds. Kaltoft claims he was fired over his weight.

The judges in Thursday's ruling said that if obesity hindered "full and effective participation" in work activities, affected workers would be protected by disability legislation.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The ruling will apply across the EU, though it will be up to national courts to decide if the effects of individuals' obesity are enough to qualify as a disability. A Danish court will now be in charge of Kaltoft's case.

The ruling could mean that employers will need to provide larger seats and other assistance for obese workers.