Written By: Emma Squillace
According to one French study, obese job applicants who undergo weight loss surgery are more likely to find jobs over a two-year period than those who do not. Obesity is a common problem in the United States, with 37.9 percent of those over the age of 20 classified as obese. This is especially true of women who elect to have weight loss surgery, as they are more frequently discriminated against than their male counterparts.
If you are considering weight loss surgery as an option for your health, we know this can be a difficult decision for you. At West Medical in Los Angeles, our physicians are committed to guiding you in your weight loss journey, so you can find a healthier, happier life. Our goal is to help you achieve permanent weight loss that is life-changing in myriad ways.
How Your Weight Affects Your Life
Being morbidly obese can open you up to discrimination in many forms. Whether it’s work related, when you’re walking down the street, or off-handed hurtful comments from strangers, we know that your weight can affect every aspect of your life. That is never truer than when you’re seeking employment.
Obesity discrimination is rampant in the workplace. Due to limited mobility and associated health conditions, those who are morbidly obese are often considered to be “less employable” than those who maintain a healthy weight. What is obesity and what causes it?
About Obesity
While most people understand that being classified as obese means one is significantly overweight, few understand the details of what that means. Most commonly, the healthiness of one’s weight (or lack there-of) is classified by your BMI or Body Mass Index. Your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms, by your height in meters squared. You can calculate your current BMI here.
A healthy BMI is considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. A BMI greater than 30 is, therefore, classified as obese. At a BMI of more than 40, one is considered morbidly obese. This BMI brings with it myriad health concerns that include Type 2 Diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and osteoarthritis.
What are the Causes of Obesity?
The causes of obesity are many and complicated. There is a great misconception that being severely obese is a result of one eating too much and not getting enough exercise, but this is not entirely true. Obesity is far more complex than that.
At West Medical, our physicians understand that the complexities of obesity are far more varied. Obesity is a result not just of physiological and environmental factors, but also of socio-economic class, genetics, psychology, and your metabolism among others.
One critical factor that will determine obesity is your genetic makeup. It can be as easy to understand as the genes you inherited from your parents make it easier for you to put on weight than it is for others. It can also mean that your body processes food differently than others. This means that while you can eat the exact same thing as a person at a healthy weight and your body processes it in a completely different way.
Furthermore, once your body has achieved a certain weight, it is evolutionarily programmed to want to hold on to that weight. When you begin to lose weight, it can seem that your body is doing everything it can to prevent that from happening. Weight loss surgery can combat this effect and allow your body to adjust to a healthier body weight and learn how to maintain it. The unique, caring staff at West Medical understands these challenges and are here to support you on your journey.
Related Health Concerns
The health conditions that often accompany obesity can also have negative effects on your job prospects. A shorter life expectancy is one of the greatest concerns associated with obesity, with an increase of risk ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent. Additionally, you are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, joint problems and arthritis, certain types of cancers, infertility, and breathing disorders such as sleep apnea. Many of these conditions can have an adverse effect on your ability to perform your job duties to your fullest ability.
Adverse Workplace Effects
While discrimination against obese men and women is not acceptable, it is far more common than people would like to think. In fact this study shows that over the course of two years when following men and women who elected to have weight loss surgery, the rate of those employed full-time increased from 66 percent at its start to 84 percent when the study concluded. This is especially true for women. This same study showed that at the beginning of the study 73 percent were employed full-time, and 90 percent two years after their surgeries. Those studied lost an average of 30 percent of their body weight over the course of the study.
When you choose to have weight loss surgery, you are taking control of every aspect of your health and life. You will have increased self-confidence and self-esteem which play a sizeable role in how well you perform at work, as well as how others perceive you.
Am I a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?
If you have a BMI greater than 35 and have been struggling to lose weight, you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery. It can be very difficult to lose weight and maintain that weight loss on your own. The physicians at West Medical want to help. Weight loss surgery can be the answer not only to your struggle to lose weight, but also to the health conditions that accompany obesity. A consultation with one of our physicians can help put you on the path to health; the path to reclaiming your life.
A New Lease on Life
Morbid obesity can affect all aspects of your life. It’s important for you to know that we understand, and you are not alone. Let us help you create a new path for your life, improve your self-confidence, and assist you in starting down the career path you have always dreamed of. Your first steps begin here at West Medical.