Cut Me In Half

I couldn’t resist the title A 2005 study indicates that, on average, overweight people make less money. Sounds obvious, right? Many overweight people feel the pinch that fewer opportunities and But the study goes a bit deeper and says that people are missing out on an average of $1300 per BMI point. So (in theory) I’m making $19′500 less per year by being 15 BMI points over normal. Ouch!

From MedicalNewsToday

Overweight Americans who lose a lot of weight also tend to build more wealth as they drop the pounds, according to new research.

The study found that the link between weight loss and wealth gains was particularly strong among white women. Black women and white men also gained wealth as they lost weight, but not as much as did white women. The wealth of Black men was basically unaffected by their weight.

Overall, the results showed that a one unit increase in a young person’s BMI was associated with a $1,300 or 8 percent reduction in wealth. But the changes varied dramatically by ethnicity and gender.

I have to admit, when I’m losing weight I tend to feel a bit better about myself. What effect that has on salary and business opportunities is unknown. But I certainly have to admit the possibility that poor health may play a part in that as well. I definitely think that a tendency towards weight-related illnesses as well as our society’s emphasis on thinness are both significant factors in this.

For example, white women who dropped their body mass index score (BMI) “a standard measure of obesity” by 10 points saw a wealth increase of $11,880. White men saw an increase of $12,720 for a similar drop, while black women increased wealth by $4,480.

But what is 10 BMI points equivalent to in pounds? For a man who’s 5′10″ and weighs 300, it would mean losing 70 pounds (going from BMI 43 to BMI 33). For someone who’s 6′2″ and weighs 300, it would mean losing 80 pounds (going from BMI 38 to BMI 28).

It makes for an even bigger reward when finally get to a normal weight. Definitely something to think about when making good food choices or working out. When it gets really tough, don’t just think about the body of your dreams — think about all the new opportunities in your career as well!

–Griffin

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