17: Weight Stigma: One of the last acceptable forms of discrimination

When we think about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), our mind often goes to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and those that are differently-abled. But do these differences represent the full landscape of DEI? What topics do we still avoid? The one I broach in this episode of VOICES WORTH LISTENING TO is weight stigma. It may surprise you to learn that overweight people regularly suffer discrimination in the form of assumptions that they are lazy, less competent and less qualified. Do these assumptions lead to fewer professional opportunities? Yes. Surprised? What if you learned that a survey of top executive coaches would reveal that they have never encountered a Fortune 500 CEO who is obese. What if I said to you that overweight employees at all levels not only receive fewer professional opportunities but, on average, less compensation than their ‘normal sized’ counterparts? Does this surprise you? It shouldn’t. Weight stigma is one of the last acceptable forms of discrimination. This episode attempts to answer two questions:  Do overweight working professionals experience discrimination in the workplace? And What can organizational leaders do to put a check on this kind of discrimination?