Can Your Weight Keep You From Getting a Job?
Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com

Obesity is one of the nation's greatest public health problems. According
to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults
are either overweight or obese. Studies show that overweight Americans
suffer medical ailments more often than their slimmer peers – from diabetes
and hypertension to degenerative conditions like arthritis and many types
of cancer.

And if that news isn't enough to get you on the treadmill, chew on this:
Studies also show that out-of-shape Americans earn less on average than
their co-workers do. Not only can being fit cost you less in medical bills
and insurance, it can earn you more on the job.

Al Mientus, an executive recruiter for Pinnacle Partnership, says employers
are "significantly less inclined" to hire the overweight. "It has to do
with an employer's perception of work ethic," he says. "Employers believe
that if you were hard-working and ambitious you would stay in shape."

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) states that only
one in 11 top male executives is overweight. The message is clear: Those
who are fit enough to climb are more likely to make it to the top of the
ladder.

Academic studies provide further proof that being in shape can boost your
earning potential. A University of Michigan study reported that the total
net worth of moderately to severely obese women is as much as 60 percent
below average. And a Cornell study by John Cawley, professor of policy
analysis, found that overweight Caucasian women earn 9 percent less than
those who are slim.

So will being out of shape keep you from getting a job? Another Cawley
study indicates for mid-level and entry level jobs, "...there is no effect
of weight on the probability of employment or sector of occupation." But
carrying some extra pounds can hurt your chances of climbing the ladder.
"At the executive level, being overweight will hinder your chances of
employment," Mientus says.

If building a better body will help you build a better career, what steps
should you take for a job-boosting physique? Mientus tells his clients to
approach body improvement like they approach improving their job skills.
Here are his suggested solutions:

Define your goals: "Just like identifying that you have to improve certain
work skills, you must also identify what health skills you need to
improve," Mientus says. Whether it's altering your diet or getting more
aerobic exercise, even building muscle mass, it's important to set goals
for improvement.

Schedule healthy activities: "You have to make appointments for exercise
and eating right, just like you schedule time in your day for meetings or
training that will boost your skills or network," Mientus says.

Find a mentor: "The best mentor is one that is at your workplace with you –
someone who fits exercise into their work day," Mientus says. If you can't
find someone at work who can lead by example, a spouse or friend is also a
good choice. "Someone who will see you every day to help remind and guide
you is very helpful," he adds.

Dress the part: Once you start to get in better shape, choose clothes that
tastefully show off your new physique. "Fit people naturally look more
confident, but good clothes that fit well accentuate that confident look,"
Mientus notes.

So on your next lunch break, grab a workout with the sales manager and then
join her for an Evian and chicken quesadilla (hold the sour cream). Your
thinner body, and fatter wallet, will thank you!