TY - JOUR
T1 - Weight-based discrimination in occupational hiring and helping behavior
AU - Swami, Viren
AU - Chan, Flora
AU - Wong, Vivien
AU - Furnham, Adrian
AU - Tovée, Martin J.
PY - 2008/4/1
Y1 - 2008/4/1
N2 - This study explored weight-based discrimination using a range of weight categories, as represented by images of real women with known body mass index (BMI). In the first study, 30 men rated each image according to likelihood of occupational hiring for a managerial post. In the second study, 28 men rated the same images for likelihood of helping behavior following a minor accident. Study results showed that individuals with a slender body weight (BMI = 19-20) were most likely to be hired and helped, while obese (BMI > 30) participants were least likely to be hired and helped. However, results also showed that emaciated (BMI < 15) individuals were likely to be discriminated against. Implications for real-life settings are discussed.
AB - This study explored weight-based discrimination using a range of weight categories, as represented by images of real women with known body mass index (BMI). In the first study, 30 men rated each image according to likelihood of occupational hiring for a managerial post. In the second study, 28 men rated the same images for likelihood of helping behavior following a minor accident. Study results showed that individuals with a slender body weight (BMI = 19-20) were most likely to be hired and helped, while obese (BMI > 30) participants were least likely to be hired and helped. However, results also showed that emaciated (BMI < 15) individuals were likely to be discriminated against. Implications for real-life settings are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40949123967&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00334.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00334.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:40949123967
SN - 0021-9029
VL - 38
SP - 968
EP - 981
JO - Journal of Applied Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Applied Social Psychology
IS - 4
ER -