Is Being Overweight Obstructing your Career Growth?

Weight-based discrimination is not an uncommon scenario in the workplace for people who have been grappling with their overweight problem. According to Mark Roehling, a Michigan State University associate professor of human resources management, weight-based discrimination influences every facet of employment, be it hiring, firing, evaluation, pay raise or promotion. He says, “At the obesity level and higher, we have every reason to believe [discrimination] is having a very significant impact on people."

Employers, since they do not know much about a potential employee, base their opinion largely on the physical appearance of an individual, rather than analyzing his/her intellectual capabilities. In doing so, employers tend to get influenced by pre-conceived notions about physical appearances (like fat people are lazy and lack energy) and thus conclude such a resource will not be beneficial for the company.

Unfortunately, there is enough data available to support this notion of employers. Statistics show that between 1997 and 2004, obese workers filed twice the number of workers’ compensation claims; had seven times the medical costs; and lost 13 times the days of work from work injury or illness compared to other employees. This is according to a Duke University Medical Center study of the health records of more than 11,000 Duke University employees and this information was featured in Archives of Internal Medicine last year.

This weight-based discrimination is not likely to cease until companies stop fretting about health care costs; governments pass definite laws and societies change their outlook towards overweight people. However, till that happens, one can adopt strategies to either overcome this bias. And mind you, this seems a bit daunting but is not impossible if given a fair try. Tips provided by McAfee, Director of medical advocacy for The Council on Size & Weight Discrimination, are worth a mention here.

• Bring it Up: If you sense that your overweight can be a potential impediment in your job interview, it’s better to confidently bring up the matter to your employers’ notice. Of course, it will not be easy, but doing so can boost your confidence level. McAfee suggests pointing out, for instance, that you never had trouble getting around your previous office.
• Start a File: If you are made to feel discriminated at work, start recording your employment files, including your appraisal and work performance. If an employer, for instance, claims that your weight is preventing you from doing your job, you will need to show that you have been performing your duties.
• Find out about Issues: Finding out what your rights are can be empowering. Read up on the issue by checking out organizations such as the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination and the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance and consider pushing for awareness or similar legislation in your state.