Can being overweight damage your career?

Getting hired

Looking for a job in these difficult times is challenging and frustrating. Getting a prospective employer to hire you is even more stressful. It’s hard enough to get a job based on qualifications, skills and credentials but in some cases being obese or overweight is unfortunately going to further affect your chances of getting hired.

Weight-based bias in the workplace

In the world out there, unfair as it may be, a weight-based bias still exists in the workplace. Being obese or overweight is still associated with a whole set of stereotypes such as laziness, sloppiness, untidiness and lack of self-discipline and control. Overweight people are also regularly labelled as probably having increased physical and psychological health problems that will “cost” the company.

Any good news?

Fortunately all is not doom and gloom. Researchers found that the bias effect tended to decrease as overweight people’s time with a company increased. Also, body weight was found to be less of a factor in performance evaluation and stereotyping had less influence when promotions were being considered.

In South Africa, despite the fact that 42% of women and 13.5% of men are alarmingly overweight, the bias effect is less stringent and noticeable. Although there aren’t any laws specifically protecting overweight people from being discriminated against, the law does specify that an employer cannot, on the basis of obesity alone, refuse to employ a person. The bias where it exists is in the mind of the individual beholder, the individual employer who still has the last say, except where prescribed by legislation, in who will be hired and who will not.

Overcoming the bias

Understanding that a possible bias may exist and determining to turn it around is a crucial first step in the right direction.

The greatest hurdle to overcome when applying for a job or a new position is to make a positive impression. It’s a known fact that hiring decisions are often arrived at during the first few moments into an interview. It is therefore important to make a good first impression by being neatly dressed and confident.

Employers are aware that being overweight or obese is often related to personal issues such as low confidence, low self- esteem and poor self-image. It is up to you to convince them otherwise. Employers are also aware of the health risks associated with increased body mass, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis and chronic kidney disease. They will be favourably impressed to learn that the overweight applicant is aware of these risks and is following a sensible eating and exercising plan to help minimise health risks.

The physical characteristics, qualities and features of an employee may be very important to the image of the company. Be sensible and spare yourself the humiliation of being rejected for a position in a company with a very sexy, body and health conscious image. Consumers and clients often have certain commonplace perceptions of how a company’s employees should look and employers will take this into consideration when hiring or promoting staff.

In a perfect and ideal world, skills are a major point of reference rather than weight but we all know our world is not perfect. Losing weight is essential not only to overcoming biases and stereotyping and finding the right position but also to stay happy and healthy.

 

Sources

Collins, D. The top five negative effects of fat and how it can impact your life. Retrieved from: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com
Does being overweight affect impact determine your chances opportunity prospects to get hired? 2014. Retrieved from: http://prsync.com/
Forty percent of SA women overweight: Study. 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za
Goldsmith, B. Being overweight can damage your career: study. Retrieved from: http://www.reuters.com