Healthism and Weight-Based Discrimination

The Unintended Consequences of Health Promotion in the Workplace

Bibliographic Data

ID2362344
AuthorsKaren M Powroznik (Stanford University, CA, USA), Karen Powroznik (Stanford University, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume44
Issue2
Pages139-170
Publication date2017-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWork and Occupations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0730-8884 • E-ISSN: 1552-8464
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0730888416682576
OpenAlexW2559773011
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited81

Health promotion programs have become increasingly common in U.S. workplaces, yet little research has examined the unintended and potentially negative consequences of these initiatives. Overweight and obese employees face widespread prejudice and pervasive discrimination in employment settings, and this study investigates whether workplace health promotion may lead to more negative outcomes for these workers. Using an experimental design, the author finds that overweight and obese employees are rated more negatively and receive lower hiring recommendations when evaluated for companies with health promotion programs. These findings suggest that health promotion increases the salience and perceived legitimacy of negative fat stereotypes that facilitate weight-based discrimination

Health promotion · Legitimacy · Obesity · Overweight · Political science · Public health · Unintended consequences · Workplace health promotion · Architecture, Design, and Social History · Medicine · Nursing · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub