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Fat People Are Discriminated in the Work Place: The 2 out of 3 Americans who are overweight may find it harder and harder to get a job.

In January 2009, the number of Americans unemployed reached a record of 11.1 million or about 8% of the population. Our society admires the slim, and relates being overweight to laziness, self-indulgence and lack of will power. Weight bias forms the last socially accepted discrimination.

The December 2008 Rudd Report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University released a comprehensive update on  weight bias in employment. The report emphasized that weight bias has serious medical and  psychological consequences because it:

• Less ambitions and productivity.
• Reduces earning potential
• Prevents hiring and promotion opportunities
• Limits academic opportunities and achievement.

The report goes on to say, "compared to job applicants with the same qualifications, obese applicants are rated more negatively and are less likely to be hired. Obese applicants are also perceived to be unfit for jobs involving face to face interactions.  In the job market obese applicants are viewed as having

• Poor self discipline
• Low supervisory potential
• Poor personal hygiene

The Rudd Reports notes that  this weight bias needs to be addressed by local, state and Federal anti-discrimination legislation. It ends, "To improve working conditions, healthy care and overall quality of life for millions of Americans, include weight on the list of categories that are covered in anti-discrimination laws."

Protecting overweight people from discrimination by law forms the basis to reverse weight bias. On the other hand, as "overweight" becomes the norm, more effort than ever is needed to reverse the problem in the workplace,  including removing vending machines, encouraging exercise and serving low calorie pleasing food in school and work cafeterias.