Obese Women Paid Less, Study Finds
Friday, 12/2/2011 at 10:52:05 AM
By Jennipher Walters
Can your weight affect your paycheck? According to a new study, yes it can — and by thousands of dollars. A new report from George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services' Department of Health Policy (GW) found that while both obese genders are paid less, obese women are particularly negatively affected.
Researchers looked at data from 2004 to 2008 and found that in 2004, wages for the obese were $8,666 less for females and $4,772 lower for males. In 2008, wages were $5,826 less for obese females, indicating a 14.6 percent decrease as compared to normal-weight females.
This is not the first time obese women have been found to make less. Previous research from Iceland found that not only do overweight women make less money, but they also have a harder time getting jobs than their normal-weight peers.
What do you think about this research?
Jennipher Walters is the CEO and co-founder of the healthy living websites FitBottomedGirls.com and FitBottomedMamas.com. A certified personal trainer, lifestyle and weight management coach and group exercise instructor, she also holds an MA in health journalism and regularly writes about all things fitness and wellness for various online publications.
