Is obesity disgusting? An investigation of weight-based discrimination in the workplace

Widespread discrimination against obese individuals in the workplace can be seen in almost all stages of the employment process. Unfortunately, efforts to reduce obesity stigma by altering cognitive beliefs and stereotypes have not been effective. And even if these beliefs can be shifted, attitudes towards obese people remain negative. This study aimed to explore the disgust emotion, specifically pathogen disgust, as an explanation for weight-based discrimination. Disgust sensitivity was also examined for its prediction of such discrimination. Eighty-four participants took part in an experiment where they were told a cover story to evaluate candidates in two rounds of selection for a CEO Excellence Award (self-reports). Facial EMG was also conducted on three sites, the levator labii superioris muscle, corrugator supercilii muscle and the orbicularis oculi muscle to measure disgust responses. Study results did indeed reveal weight-based discrimination, with participants generally preferring normal weight candidates. However, this bias was not found for male candidates; in fact obese men were preferred over normal weight men and obese women. On the other hand, females were preferred when they were of normal weight. Contrary to prediction, pathogen-related threats (manipulated through hygiene) did not cause discrimination when gender and weight differences were taken into account. Participants also did not elicit greater disgust responses towards obese candidates. Disgust sensitivity was also not found to be predictive of anti-fat bias. Despite the limitations, the study provides new insight for future research regarding the relationship between pathogen disgust and weight-based discrimination