XPost - OT Have you seen this article?

Unlike the obese, being blind/disabled IS a protected class and it IS illegal to discriminate against them. 

Liz

My previous boss didn't hire smokers...thank God he didn't have anything against obesity!

Hmmmmm ... what would they say to the obese cardiologist strolling into an interview??????



Meg

This is outrageous.  Note that you don't qualify for bariatric surgery (even with co-morbidities) at a BMI less than 35.  And there are many, many scientific studies that say that other types of weight loss just don't work for the majority of people.

Not surprising. Fat bias has always been there in the hiring process. Most employers just don't state it so bluntly.  We've all experienced it. We're just not told that's why we didn't get the job  or promotion or why we were chosen for layoff when other, less productive workers with higher salaries were not.

In the hiring process they see obesity as a choice like smoking or being an alcoholic. With health care costing as much as it does these days, I can see where it would be a factor. But you can lie about being a smoker or a drinker. The obese are just unfortunate enough to have to wear their flaw on the outside for the whole world to see.

I don't see it changing either. With the obesity rate in the US the highest in the world, the focus on reducing it (and also demonizing it) is going to keep growing.