Weight bias in the workplace

Weight bias is one of the last socially acceptable forms of discrimination – and it impacts our society systemically. The Obesity Action Coalition defines weight bias as holding negative attitudes or beliefs about people’s weight. The attitudes can be implicit or explicit and can lead to stigma, rejection, prejudice, and discrimination. We see it in all facets of life, including the organizations we work at and within the healthcare systems that exist to support us.  

• 40% of health-care professionals have reacted negatively to a patient with obesity¹ 

• Just a 10% increase in BMI there is a 6% lower salary for women ² 

• In news images depicting people with obesity/overweight, 72% are negatively portrayed³ 

Each year to learn how to best reduce weight bias in the workplace, the Wondr Health team attends a training led by the Obesity Action Coalition.  Here are some key learnings from the training, and tips for how to challenge bias in your workplace:  

• Implicit bias is just as powerful as explicit – whether you are aware of your bias or not, it still has the same impact. It’s critical to recognize harmful biases that need to be addressed to create a positive environment for all people, no matter their body size.  

• Words matter – there is a stigma that people with overweight/obesity are solely to blame for their body size. Words and phrases like ‘lazy’ and ‘lack of self-control’ are often used when describing someone with overweight/obesity. And lately with the rise in weight-loss medication use, this is being coined as the ‘easy way out’ for weight loss.   

• Shame is not a motivator – whether you have experienced it in one way or another, a common misconception is that shame motivates change. On the contrary, especially with weight and obesity, shame perpetuates a cycle of anxiety, decreased healthcare visits, and increased stigmatization.  

So, what can you do? 

1. Examine your own organization and policies – it’s common for people with obesity to face discrimination in the workplace such as unfair hiring practices, wage discrepancies, or negative stereotypes. 

2. Screen your benefits for bias – look for solutions that use people-first language and materials that are weight-inclusive and that avoid diet-culture language. 

3. Address mental and physical health – seek solutions that treat the whole person (not just the number on the scale) for effective and long-lasting results. 

4. Shift from shame to behavior change – participants are more motivated to lose weight when the focus is on behavior change versus obesity.  

It’s important to recognize that none of us are perfect, but it’s imperative that we take the time to self-reflect, stand up, and speak up against weight bias. Helpful resources include Wondr Health’s weight bias guide, the Obesity Action Coalition’s weight bias quiz, and Harvard’s Implicit Bias Test (choose “Weight IAT” option). 

Resources: 

1. Fruh, S. M., et al. Obesity Stigma and Bias. JNP.   

2. Lempert, D.A. The Economic Causes and Consequences of Overweight and Obesity in the United States. 

3. Heuer, C.A. et al. Obesity stigma in online news: a visual content analysis.