MOSCOW, July 23 (RIA Novosti) - About 40 percent of Americans consider themselves to be “very” or “somewhat” overweight, while 87 percent of US citizens reject the idea of hiring discrimination against those significantly overweight, according to a new poll by Gallup Inc.
At the same time, 39 percent of Americans would agree with higher health insurance rates for overweight people.
The research results are based on 1013 telephone interviews with adults aged 18 or over, living in 50 US states.
Previous studies conducted in the United States suggest that there is a correlation between obesity and unemployment.
In a study conducted by the lead researcher of Monash University in Australia Kerry O'Brien it was found that obese women in the United States received more negative responses on leadership potential, predicted success, salary, total employment rating than candidates with normal weight.
Citing the Center for Creative Leadership study, The Wall Street Journal also stated that overweight executives were often looked at as less effective in their job performance.
Obesity is a major health issue in the United States. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention statistics suggest that about 60 percent of American adults are overweight.
Obesity is said to be a contributing factor to about 300,000 deaths each year, costing US government an estimated $120 billion for direct medical services related to weight problems.
Under US federal discrimination laws overweight people are not considered to be a protected class.
