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Weight bias in work settings - a qualitative review
Katrin Elisabeth Giel1, Ansgar Thiel, Martin Teufel
1Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tübingen, University Tübingen, Germany. katrin.giel@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Obesity Facts
|March 11, 2010
Summary
Weight bias negatively impacts employment and professional success for obese individuals. Further research in real work environments is needed to understand and address this workplace discrimination.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Psychology
- Sociology of Work
Background:
- Physical appearance significantly influences workplace behavior and treatment.
- Obesity is frequently associated with perceived workplace discrimination in the USA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the nature, context, and extent of weight bias in occupational settings.
Main Methods:
- A literature search was conducted in PubMed and PsychINFO.
- Studies investigating weight bias in the occupational context were identified.
Main Results:
- Obesity presents a barrier to employment, specific professions, and career advancement.
- Obese individuals face stereotypes regarding work qualities and experience workplace discrimination.
- Evidence for weight bias exists across five work-life domains.
Conclusions:
- Weight bias is evident in multiple workplace areas.
- Current research relies heavily on laboratory studies with student samples, limiting ecological validity.
- Field studies are essential to investigate weight-based discrimination in real work settings and identify underlying mechanisms.
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