That women get easily bothered with the slightest increase in waistline is a fact. And now, a new study states that working women who are constantly worried about piling on pounds could be seriously damaging their career prospects.
According to the study, women who invariably worry about their weight can suffer major setbacks in job, career, and financial well-being as compared to their counterparts who are satisfied with their body image.
In the survey, conducted by personal care brand Dove on 445 women, almost 50 percent of the participants said they felt inadequate or inferior at work place because of their weight worries, and a 15 percent admitted that their body insecurities were taking a toll on their career growth.
Linda Papadopoulos, psychologist and author, said in a press release, “This doesn’t come as a surprise at all. When you are anxious about something, be it your weight or otherwise, it becomes the predominant thing on your mind.
“This would understandably affect your working life and your focus on your career.”
Study details and findings
For the study, participants were asked to self rate their body image. They were also questioned about their weight gain problems, body insecurities, and how their anxieties were affecting their work success.
While a sixth of women reported lack of confidence due to their appearance at workplace, almost half of them confessed that their apprehensions not only hindered their career progression but also extended to their daily life.
One in five of the 445 women questioned admitted that body hang-ups affected their daily life, the Daily Mail reports.
Commenting on the study findings, Papadopoulos said, “When women grow preoccupied with their appearance, they start to think about themselves in the third person.”
“They start thinking what would a guy see, or what would another woman see.”
