The Struggle Is Real: Why Obese People are Less Likely to Get Hired

The issue of obesity is truly a health issue that should not be ignored. In fact, statistics from the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that nearly 36 percent of adults in the US are considered obese, which naturally result in variety of health complications in relation to their condition, from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Unfortunately, the rate of obesity is rising; it has been predicted that half of the US alone will be obese by 2030. Obesity is not only a problem in the US as more and more Australians are suffering from this so-called “plague”.

Problems Faced by Obese Employees and Applicants

One of them is with regards to their employment. Numerous survey reports and other studies have been published recently have pointed out the correlation between the two, and many theories have been developed to understand this further. It is often a popular belief that poor people who have problems with their employment are more likely to eat poorly. When they do, they reach their weight limit and become overweight or obese. However, there have been recent studies that help shaped a brand new theory with regards to the correlation of obesity and employment.

Now, being fat is the reason why they have problems with employment. For numerous HR professionals and, in a larger scale, the employers that are hiring new prospects, people who are obese are seen as “undesirable” and less hard working. Indeed, studies have concluded that they are often disqualified from being hired or even promoted to a higher position, whereas those who don’t have any weight issues and are within their normal weight range are highly favored.

For most companies and HR practitioners, deciding to employ obese people are seen as both impractical and not good for business. Many employers find doling out health insurance as too costly, knowing that these people are facing, or at risk of facing, certain weight-related issues that could jeopardize their health, like hypertension, diabetes, and stroke. Apart from this economic dilemma, the hardships of obese people with regard to their career and employment become even worse when taken into consideration the fact that they face discrimination in the workplace. In fact, that is a significant reason why they don’t get hired in the first place. While some are hired, they are most likely to be treated differently in the workplace, wherein they are harassed or ridiculed because of their appearance.

Fighting Obesity for Better Job Security

This is, however, not uncommon in the realm of employment. Many obese applicants are being shunned by employers because they see them as lazy and unmotivated individuals. Since there is no law that bans employers from discriminating against applicants and employees who are obese, it is very important for everyone to stay in shape and live a healthier lifestyle. There are many convenient foods and beverages that can help fight obesity, including low-calorie meal plans. You may also opt to trying your hands on baking. You may use gluten-free and healthy bread flour and other ingredients to ensure that the pastries you’ll be eating are healthy. Of course, exercise is fundamentally important as well.

If you are an applicant or employee aiming for a promotion and is suffering from obesity, you may want to change your lifestyle not only to have a more stable job but most importantly to improve your health. The big problem about being obese is being extremely susceptible to countless types of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, different types of cancer, skin infections, infertility, and ulcer.

Suffering from obesity is not a dead-end. The good thing is that you turn your life around by simply adapting a healthier lifestyle. This includes eating healthier foods, consuming safe and healthy pastries made of gluten-free bread flour, and daily exercise. Don’t let obesity take away your social and employment life.