Are you earning less because you're overweight?

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

Roger in Kentucky — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:38:03 GMT

It amazes me the amount of indignant posts here saying fat people can't help it.

Look, if you want to let yourself go, that's your call - but acting like diet and exercise have no impact on weight is ridiculous.

I realize people tend to have different natural set points as far as their "natural" weight - but that doesn't mean there's nothing they can do about their weight.

There were multiple early TV "reality" shows focusing on obese and super-obese individuals from a medical and psychological perspective a couple/few years ago. These shows were conducted in a high quality documentary format, and reminded me of Nova as far as the general quality of presentation.

In all the episodes with hundreds of people followed total - I'd say less than 3% would admit that they liked to eat a LOT and eat food that was bad for them.

About 80% denied eating too much - but interestingly for super-obese folks who checked into clinics, virtually ALL of them in denial ate perhaps 10 times what they claimed and wanted fattening snacks -- or actually massively cheated having friends bring them entire pizzas at night - and were discovered via cameras the doctors had to use to get them to accept that they had a problem. (The doctors had learned that without the cameras, cheating defeated the benefit of the clinics for such patients).

The other patients realized they had a problem. Many had lost a lot of weight. Unfortunately it was very hard for them to lose weight for the long term, as a permanent change in lifestyle and/or diet was required, and few of the folks were willing to commit to that long term. In many cases coming home to a partner or family that was obese and ate the wrong stuff led to their diet downfall.

Before I am accused of being totally skinny, etc, I was skinny until I was about 35, and then suddenly gained about 45 lbs (I wanted to gain the first 20). It took about 6 months of giving up ALL desserts, sodapop, etc. and more exercise to get that 25 lbs I didn't want off. The trigger was when I was going to have to start buying bigger pants to breathe - it made me really mad at myself and motivated me to fix the problem.

I can now have a little pop but still avoid deserts, else I gain weight. So, rail at everyone that you eat like a skinny person all you want - but the vast majority of obese and especially morbidly obese folks are in total denial if you do this.

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

fellow struggler — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:06:07 GMT

I own a small marketing company, and I'd like to "weigh in" on this subject. I am a man, and I am genetically predisposed to be obese. but i work hard NOT to be. i own a small marketing company, and I have noticed that when I stay in shape, I feel better, I have more energy and I pay more attention to my appearance and my work. Consequently, I receive better treatment from others. when I am not in shape, I lack confidence, I don't have the higher energy, and I generally feel more depressed. While I don't feel that people treat me negatively when I am heavier (i am not obese, unless you believe the BMI charts), they don't treat me as positively. I fluctuate between around 195 at the lowest and 230 at the highest. To be fair, I am relatively strong, so just look kind of thicker. I lift weights most weeks, and when I'm staying thinner, I'm also jogging 3-4 times per week and I'm being disciplined in what I am eating. when I'm staying in shape and eating right, I also don't get sick much - and when i do, I don't stay sick as long. bottom line? yes, people in better shape get paid more, and I think that's as it should be because in general, people who are in shape are higher energy people who are more disciplined and productive at work, miss less work due to sickness, and project a more positive image at work. overall, they are typically better for morale, and so can even have the effect of bringing up the whole. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules, but overall, I think people who are in better shape are much better investments - especailly in the long term. I continue to struggle myself, but I know that if i want to be treated the best, I really need to stay in shape. best to all who read these ramblings

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

pauline osman — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:18:13 GMT

I guess Fat, short and ugly are now taking over for "old" - now you are overlooked and pushed aside because you are "old" - We have a fat lady here, who is a boss with a lot of power, we have a CEO who is tall, we have all our sales managers who are short but know what they are doing. It's now what you know but who you know and that will never change. I have a son who is highly intelligent and short, never got a break-working for menial $$$. People here who know nothing making many $$$$.

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

keith's ex — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:59:20 GMT

My mom told me I would never be successful if I didn't lose weight. [She weighed just as much as I did]. I was always thin until my husband forced me to get that stupid Norplant put in my arm. After 2 long years with it, I had it taken out but still was 50 pounds heavier than before due to the changes it makes in the pituitary.

Long story short--don't ever mess with your body and guess what mom, I have 3 college degrees so I am successful.

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

Pat — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:20:14 GMT

I have been there! I have been both overweight and slim. I was treated far better being slim. Being fat, I was always ignored and treated like I was stupid. Now I'm overweight again and people treat me like that don't see me standing there.

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

Star — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:17:41 GMT

I find most of these comments completely incongruous to what really happens in the workplace -- I am a size 18, personally, and I really don't care what people think of it. I carry myself with as much dignity, grace and self-confidence as I can muster (without, of course, trying to seem like too much of a preening bird) and yet I have trouble finding and keeping gainful employment.

The fact of the matter is that when people are looking for new hires, they're thinking about what you're going to look like sitting in their office -- yes, ladies and gentlemen, you -are- an accessory for their workplace ensemble. As trying and as absolutely -absurd- as it is, an employer wants someone who is going to look good while they're doing their job; it is unlikely that an employer is going to overlook the lovely size 6 woman with the gorgeous legs and perfect blonde dye job in favor of the somewhat chubby but ever-so-vivacious redhead. You get where this is going.

Sad, but true.

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

Phatgrl — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:38:59 GMT

Some people are so judgemental.. I have never understood how someone can pass judgement on anyone whose shoes they have not yet walked in. "Just lose the weight" is there really people out there who think that is a useful piece of advice??? As though us fatties are sitting around day after day being bombarded with everyone telling us we are "disgusting" unless we are thin, as well as magazines, media, etc... As though we haven't been dreaming of losing the weight but are still broke from the diet plan we bought, tried and failed last month. Are you serious? Fat people are so obsessed with losing weight and they think about wanting to be thin EVERY day! Wanting it and being able to pull it off is two totally different things.

Here's a new thought that I'm SURE hasn't entered your head as of yet- leave us alone. Stop judging stop criticizing what you know nothing about. Realize that one day it could be you in need of acceptance and understanding. Don't judge a book by it's cover, and all the other stuff I thought civilized people already knew.

I am so sick of all the skinny people out there who know that even though they are thin they aren't especially um...special.. using the insecurities of others to make themselves feel superior... Get a life and stop reading about fat people just so you can leave ignorant comments... Just my $ .02 :~ P

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

Stacey — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:39:14 GMT

Truly the people who are overweight and the people who are thin have no reason to judge. Each party has no idea how the other feels. The whole thing boils down to lack of self esteem and nothing more. If you pay attention to yourself everything else falls into place. No person should pay attention to what society calls beautiful. Coming to an understanding that when a person judges it is based on their own problems makes everything easier to deal with. Take a breath and do the best you can in any situation.

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

Kim — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:33:54 GMT

I have been a big beautiful woman all of my 40 years of life and I have two amazing jobs. I have not been held back at all. In large part due to the fact that even though I am a big woman, I have never been unconfident or judgemental of myself. God wants me to be who I am, and that is who I am. The shell that I am in is nothing more than the that. A shell. The REAL me is in inside and she is a confident, sexy, strong, big woman!

as a note: my love life is AMAZING too! Just goes to show, there are men out there who like us BBW!

re: Are you earning less because you're overweight?

Kim — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:33:31 GMT

as a note: my love life is AMAZING too! Just goes to show, there are men out there who like us BBW!