As much as we hate to admit it, slimmer people are more successful and earn more money over the course of their careers. However, a study that was published last year in the journal Social Forces and has recently garnered wider attention argued that a lack of education, not workplace discrimination, is to blame when it comes to overweight women having less success in the job market.
“Bigger girls are less likely to go to college regardless of how well they did in school, their career aspirations or whether their parents went to college,” explained Christy Glass, associate professor of sociology at Utah State University and one of the authors of the study. “That education deficit accumulates over the course of their careers.”
Interestingly, reported The New York Times, there was no similar outcome among overweight men.
Researchers were surprised by the findings, especially because women in general are earning more advanced degrees than men. It was speculated that growing up overweight as a female has more of a social stigma than growing up overweight as a male. Furthermore, overweight boys tend to be more active in sports during high school (i.e. football), which can give them a greater sense of acceptance and belonging.
The New York Times reported that obesity prevention policies need to start early on and should be twofold–they need to promote healthy behaviors and shift attitudes by, for example, encouraging overweight girls to take college prep courses and extracurricular activities.
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