Overweight teenage girls face life of discrimination

Teenage girls should prepare themselves for serious, long-lasting discrimination if they are overweight at the age of 16, according to new research

A 14-year analysis of schoolchildren and their eventual prospects has found that obese girls are likely to be trapped in low-earning jobs by the time they are 30. They also face health and relationship problems. Yet there was no similar discrimination against obese men as they entered the workforce, suggesting that women are judged more on their looks than men.

The findings come amid concern that employers are increasingly looks-conscious. British law firms are already preparing to take on discrimination claims brought by overweight people who say they have been denied jobs and promotion.

The study found that 70 per cent of women who were overweight at 16 and 21 had working-class jobs by the age of 30, compared with 40 per cent of other women. This was true even when family and economic background were taken into account.

The researchers who conducted the study, reported in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine this week, followed the fortunes of more than 1000 European school children. Jobs such as air hostess, clothes shop assistant or waitress could all be harder to obtain for overweight women, who may seek jobs where appearance matters less.

"In trying to avoid exposing their bodies to other people they may seek single-working jobs, like cleaner," the study said.

A study by the economist Barry Harper of London Metropolitan University found that "unattractive" people got paid less. The study of 11,000 employees found that short, fat female secretaries suffered most, collecting 15 per cent less than slimmer peers.

Rachael Morgan, 15, from Creetown in Dumfries and Galloway, agrees that girls are more likely to be bullied about their weight than boys. She gets taunted every day about her size.

Rachael, who weighs 89kg, says the insults led to depression. She is writing songs to channel the emotion. "I feel sorry for the people who call me names. Just because I'm a bit bigger, that doesn't make me a bad person. I get a lot of stick, mainly from boys. I will lose weight - but it will be when it's right for me."

- INDEPENDENT