Catherine, a 44-year-old job seeker, found herself taken aback by the subtle but unmistakable undertone of fat shaming during her recent job interview in a downtown Boston, MA conference room. This encounter marked her second job interview of the week, and she entered the room feeling confident that she met all the necessary qualifications: a robust work history, glowing references from top-tier contacts, and a freshly styled haircut.

However, as the conversation veered away from professional matters and toward personal interests, the dialogue took an unexpected turn toward health-related topics. Despite Catherine’s mild overweight, she found the emphasis on physical appearance unfair and, frankly, irrelevant, particularly given that she was not vying for a client-facing role.

“At my age I no longer have to worry about the interviewer asking indirectly about my family plans”, she says, “But now, it seems they’re looking at applicant’s physical appearance more than ever”.

Additional employer health benefits surged last year even though remote work still remains the most competitive perk. Current Massachusetts law requires mid-sized companies to make a “fair and reasonable” contribution to their employees’ health insurance or pay a Fair Share Contribution of up to $295 per employee per year to the state. Absenteeism due to illness is expensive, and so is the unused complimentary gym memberships for non-athletic staff. Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of hiring individuals who prioritize their health from the outset.

“They basically implied that as I obviously could not take care of my own health, how could I possibly take of a department”, Catherine says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the chocolate on the table was there just as a test.”

Similarly to ethnicity and gender, general health is a silent talking point within recruitment. Catherine believes the diversity goals of large corporations can be turned to the job seekers favor. “You have to play by their rules, no matter how unfair it feels,” she says. The stress of being unemployed was deteriorating her health, so she decided to put her foot down and take her fitness seriously. “If I’m going to be refused a job, it’s not going to be because of my love for chocolate,” she laughs.

More than one out of five Americans belonged to a health club in 2021, totaling 66.5 million with a yearly growth of 3.8%. There is a growing interest in health improvement during times of unemployment. Participants of the state funded Training Opportunities Program (which allows you to collect unemployment benefits while you attend full-time training for new job skills) are also encouraged to devote time for their physical health.

For Catherine, the job search continues, albeit with renewed determination. While she may not have landed her ideal position yet, she remains optimistic, buoyed by the discovery of a new romantic relationship.
“I may not have secured my dream job just yet, but you know what?” Catherine shares with a smile. “I’ve found a new boyfriend, and that’s brought me a lot of happiness. I guess my new body gave me more confidence. It’s still early days, but I’m feeling really positive about it all.”

Editor’s note: Catherine (name changed to maintain confidentiality) contacted me after reading the Fit Businessman book and wanted to share her story. People can be very superficial and perhaps a good first impression and a healthy appearance can tip the scale in a job interview. In the end it doesn’t really matter if it’s your wedding, doctor or potential employer that entices you to get fit.