Why Are Overweight Women Paid Less?

The gender pay gap may be narrowing, but women’s earnings are still unfairly reduced based on their size. Studies show that the bigger women are, the less they earn, while men’s pay remains unaffected by their weight.

In my latest video, I reveal how shocked i am to discover that our earnings are related to our weight rather than experience and that this discrimination is largely due to the social stigma of obesity.

Key Findings

• Women with obesity face a 16% decrease in hourly wages, and this wage penalty persists even when accounting for factors like experience and qualifications.

• Research from the University of Exeter found that overweight women in the UK earn £1,500 less per year than their slimmer colleagues, while men’s pay remains unaffected by their weight.

• Perhaps most troubling, the discrimination doesn’t disappear even if the weight comes off. Studies show that the wage gap remains, highlighting the long-term impact of bias and stigma.

This issue goes beyond just wages—it’s about how society continues to value women based on appearance. In my book, The Elephant in the Room: Why Women Are Worth More than We Weigh, I explore how women’s value continues to be measured by their appearance rather than their skills or contributions.

To continue the conversation about why women’s weight should not determine their value, subscribe to my newsletter.