The Richer You Are, The Thinner You Are, According To Studies

There truly is a link between being slim and successful. Kendall Park, a sociology professor at Vanderbilt University, brought this truth to her audience on TikTok this week. "Let's talk about the horrifying economics of thinness," Dr. Park says. "There's an inverse relationship between BMI and income in the United States. That is, the richer people are, the thinner they are."

She says that women who are 25 lbs overweight earn $16,000 less a year than average-sized women. Men also experience a correlation between weight and income; however, the relationship is different: Men 25 lbs overweight earn $8,000 more than their average-sized counterparts.

Dr. Park continues, "And these estimates for women might understate reality because it's hard to estimate the wage gap for someone who wasn't even offered the job in the first place because of size-based discrimination." No lies were stated – we all know about pretty privilege and its prevalence in society. This thin advantage also leads to romance – skinny women are likelier to marry rich men.

But why is it that rich people tend to be skinnier? Dr. Park states that our paychecks greatly affect our lifestyle choices: "Now, historically, explanations of the relationship between BMI and income have focused on the reverse causal arrow, suggesting that it's not weight that affects income, but income that affects weight. Like poor people struggle to afford healthy food, they have less time to exercise."

What Studies Have To Say About Body Size and Success

In another study conducted in Sweden, researchers found that larger-sized applicants received fewer callbacks for employment. Additionally, Vanderbilt law professor Jennifer Shinall revealed years ago that overweight women had a lower chance of being in high-wage positions that "include interaction with the public" and a higher chance of working in lower-paying and more physically demanding jobs.

“Starting when a woman becomes overweight, she is increasingly less likely to work in a personal interaction or personal communication occupation," Dr. Shinall explains. "And the heaviest women in the labor market are the least likely individuals to work in personal interaction occupations.”

Bigger women land themselves in more strenuous positions. “As a woman becomes heavier, she is actually more likely to work in a physical activity occupation. So, morbidly obese women are the most likely to work in a physically demanding occupation," Dr. Shinall adds.

These studies state the obvious, as we typically see larger women in low-wage positions. While I advocate for taking responsibility for your health, there's no denying that poor women often find themselves disadvantaged regarding food choices, especially in this economy. Cheaper, processed foods high in calories, chemicals, and sugar, and low in nutritional value, are more accessible, perpetuating a cycle of unhealthy eating habits. And, if they're working a more demanding job, it makes sense why they would be too tired to make a healthy meal once they get home. But having a low salary doesn't mean you can't be at an average weight – there are ways to shed some pounds on a budget.

Nevertheless, Dr. Park's research sheds light on a sobering reality. "According to some surveys, girls as young as 6 recognize the expectation that they should be thin," Dr. Park says. "And then we act surprised when we see women over-exercising or restricting their diets. And I think many people often assume it's vanity. No, our economic system punishes women in the first place, and then doubly punishes them when they don't conform to very specific, very rigid standards of beauty."

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