California’s new anti-body shaming law now in effect

A new law now in effect in California which requires school districts to include language in their handbooks to address body-shaming. While school handbooks typically include a bullying clause, the new law requires specific language to address body-shaming. Here, ERC Clinical Director Leilani Sechler and Director of Nutrition Julia Cassidy share with CBS Sacramento why this is an important move and why language matters. Cassidy notes there's a difference between using a word as a "descriptor" and when language falls into a bullying category.

Published: Aug 20, 2025

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Julia Cassidy, MS, RD, CIEC, CEDS-C

We talk to advocates about what’s covered in the law, their hopes for it, and if laws like this ever go too far.

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