Obesity is a complex, challenging and controversial public health issue that many modern-day economies are facing, and people living with obesity are still tackling the (misinformed) perception that they can control their weight by eating less and doing more. There is rightly some concern about the rising prevalence of being overweight and obesity, with projections estimating that in the UK by 2050 60% of men and 50% of women will be living with obesity. This could then, if it is not already, be a catalyst for organisations to think about how they provide open, fair and inclusive workplaces for those living with the condition.
The Promoting understanding and research into productivity, obesity stigma and employment (Purpose) research, published by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) in November 2020, found that discrimination and stigma against those working with obesity occurs at every stage of the employment cycle, suggesting that more needs to be done at the employer and policy level to help encourage, protect and promote the health and wellbeing of those living with obesity at work.
The workplace, especially those who are already engaged in health promotion, can be ideal environments where people living with obesity can find support and access advice. Current weight management interventions are either organisationally focused, for example, on-site exercise programmes, healthy catering, adjustments to improve physical space, or individually tailored such as behaviour modification programmes, counselling, programmes focused on nutrition and exercise, and although well-intentioned they could inadvertently reinforce obesity stigma by promoting the common rhetoric that obesity can be easily resolved by a greater application of willpower on the part of the individual.
This obesity stigma is also evident in the wider conversations about workplace health and wellbeing, productivity, and the ‘cost’ that employees with obesity can have for business. There is a need to reframe this debate and focus on an asset-based view of workplace health and wellbeing, and create workplace cultures where employees living with obesity can thrive and make a full contribution if relevant support and workplace adjustments are made.
