OVERWEIGHT WOMEN ARE much less likely to be selected for jobs when compared with their slimmer counterparts, a new study has claimed.
The study also asserted that once overweight women are employed they are likely to be paid less and given fewer responsibilities.
Researchers at the University of Manchester and Australia’s Monash University asked 102 students to look at a selection of photographs depicting what student were told were 12 different women. In actuality, the photographs showed just six women – using images taken before and after weight-loss surgery.
Students were asked to look at the CVs and photographs and rate the candidates in several ways, including the candidates’ “leadership potential”, whether they should be offered the job, and what their starting salary should be.
The results, published in the Journal of Obesity, show that students gave the ‘overweight’ candidates an overall worse rating than their slimmer rivals – awarding them lower wages and predicting that they would perform less well in the company.
Lead researcher Kerry O’Brien said the findings showed there was a “clear need” to reduce obesity discrimination – particularly relating to females.
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