Poland study finds weight bias influences hiring decisions

Research by Dr Martyna Krogulec‑Łęska of the Akademia Humanistyczno‑Ekonomiczna in Łódź shows that body weight strongly affects candidate evaluation despite identical qualifications. In experiments where participants reviewed profiles with the same experience and CV, 82.1 % chose a slim woman over an equally qualified heavier counterpart for a managerial role, 80.6 % preferred a slim man, and 83.5 % selected a slim doctor in a medical‑expertise scenario. The bias, termed “weightism,” also appeared in other professional fields.

The study cites similar findings from Mexico, where applicants with obesity received interview invitations at a markedly lower rate (21.3 % vs. 29.1 %). Researchers attribute the effect to unconscious mechanisms such as the halo effect and the “Golem” effect, which link thinness with competence and overweight with lower motivation. The author calls for recruitment processes to focus on skills and experience rather than appearance.