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Fat Lowers Wages

Puppycow

Penultimate Amazing
Puppycow
Joined
Jan 9, 2003
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Yokohama, Japan
A new study shows that more fat is correlated with lower wages

As one might have guessed, but now it's been scientifically proven. And this is not based on BMI, either, but on body composition. (BMI does not consider body composition, only height and weight).

Our results indicate that increased body fat is unambiguously associated with decreased wages for both males and females. This result is in contrast to the mixed and sometimes inconsistent results from the previous research using body mass index (BMI). We also find new evidence indicating that a higher level of fat-free body mass is consistently associated with increased hourly wages. We present further evidence that these results are not the artifacts of unobserved heterogeneity.
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(In case you are wondering, I struggle with my weight too. I am borderline obese. I run on weekends, but I like to eat and drink. I lost a lot of weight last year, but it has returned. I am not starting this thread to blame fat people for being fat.)
 
I wonder if this has to do with the overall "beauty" factor that influences employment.

Or it confirms my suspicions that fat people are just lazy bastards.

(jk)
 
Puppycow said:
... (In case you are wondering, I struggle with my weight too. I am borderline obese. I run on weekends, but I like to eat and drink. I lost a lot of weight last year, but it has returned. I am not starting this thread to blame fat people for being fat.)
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When you lost the weight, was it just by running on the weekends? In my experience, a day or two a week is usually not nearly enough to do me any good -- when I exercise, as I am now, I usually aim for 4 or 5 days a week.
 
Poor people generally buy cheaper food which is (surprise!) not as healthy. Hence they will be fatter than an otherwise identical person who buys higher quality food.
 
shuize said:
When you lost the weight, was it just by running on the weekends? In my experience, a day or two a week is usually not nearly enough to do me any good -- when I exercise, as I am now, I usually aim for 4 or 5 days a week.
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Yeah, I've slacked off. But I still exercise more than a couple years ago when I smoked and was almost completely sedentary. I quit smoking and at the same time joined a gym. So I'm still better off than 2 years ago because I don't smoke and I exercise more. Last year I got a promotion after (suprise) slimming down.
 
I think there is a viscious cycle. The best thing is to not get fat in the first place. Once you do, it becomes harder to exercise, harder to lose weight and keep it off, etc. And if you do start to gain weight, the sooner you get serious about putting a stop to it, the better. Much better 200 pounds than 300 and diabetic.
 
Tsukasa Buddha said:
I wonder if this has to do with the overall "beauty" factor that influences employment.

Or it confirms my suspicions that fat people are just lazy bastards.

(jk)
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I'd guess that both the "beauty" factor and your "suspicions that fat people are just lazy bastards" have something to do with it.
 
It costs money to join a gym, have gastric bypass surgery, or liposuction. Therefore the people already making lots of money will be able to afford it where others can't.
 
quixotecoyote said:
Poor people generally buy cheaper food which is (surprise!) not as healthy.
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Is this true? I was watching a program last night about families who had ended up homeless and how they coped. What struck home was that they were put into a bed and breakfast where the only cooking facility they had was a kettle - result was that the only hot food they could get were takeaways or highly processed "just add water" ready meals like Pot Noodle. Unlikely to be healthy but not cheap either. Another family "cooked" a tin of beans by leaving it on a radiator while they were out so it would be warm when they got in.

If they had somewhere to cook (and probably some support/help) then they could have used cheap ingredients to make much healthier meals, so it was not the cost of the food that led to problems.
 
Jaggy Bunnet said:
Is this true? I was watching a program last night about families who had ended up homeless and how they coped. What struck home was that they were put into a bed and breakfast where the only cooking facility they had was a kettle - result was that the only hot food they could get were takeaways or highly processed "just add water" ready meals like Pot Noodle. Unlikely to be healthy but not cheap either. Another family "cooked" a tin of beans by leaving it on a radiator while they were out so it would be warm when they got in.

If they had somewhere to cook (and probably some support/help) then they could have used cheap ingredients to make much healthier meals, so it was not the cost of the food that led to problems.
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I draw a distinction between 'poor' and the homeless population frequenting shelters. At some point when you simply cannot afford enough of any kind of food, you will lose weight. Until then, your choices become increasingly limited. You're stuck with high sodium, empty calorie foods like pastas and processed canned meats (50 cent cans of ravioli and the like).

I don't know what 'pot noodle' is but you can get more than 12 meals of Ramen Noodles (basically empty calories) for a buck fifty,
 
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quixotecoyote said:
Until then, your choices become increasingly limited. You're stuck with high sodium, empty calorie foods like pastas and processed canned meats (50 cent cans of ravioli and the like).
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Not if you buy ingredients and cook yourself rather than rely on buying processed ready meals. This is also much cheaper.

I don't know what 'pot noodle' is but you can get more than 12 meals of Ramen Noodles (basically empty calories) for a buck fifty,
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Pot Noodle:

http://www.potnoodle.co.uk/NoodleRange.aspx

If you go to the nutrition link, it is kind of lacking, but I suspect that eating a lot of them is not good for you. Interestingly the Lamb hot pot, Chicken Satay and Beef&Tomato flavours are all suitable for vegetarians!
 
I've worked with poor people... the stuff they eat is horrible. 3 for $1 mac and cheese with a side of mashed potatoes. Sandwiches made from cheap white bread, a slice or two of that paper-thin weird Buddig pseudo-meat, and a slice of "processed cheese food", slathered with mayo to hide the chemical taste of the sandwich. Ramen noodle soup. Frozen fried chicken. No fresh fruit or vegetables. Not a lot of lean meat.

What you wind up with is a situation where people are overweight AND malnourished.
 
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