Slim vs Fat: Overweight Russians Earn Less
Overweight Russians tend to earn significantly less than their slimmer counterparts, with a 10% increase in body mass index (BMI) associated with a 9% decrease in wages. These are the findings made by Anastasiia Deeva, lecturer at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences and intern researcher in Laboratory of Economic Research in Public Sector. The article has been published in Voprosy Statistiki.
In recent decades, the rising number of overweight individuals has become a serious public health concern. The World Health Organisation and governments around the world have voiced alarm over the increasing mortality rates and prevalence of chronic health conditions linked to this issue. Additionally, being overweight can negatively impact a person’s standing in the job market. Numerous studies indicate that in many countries, overweight individuals often face discrimination during the hiring process as well as in opportunities for career advancement. In the United States, a one-point increase in BMI is associated with a 3% to 6% reduction in income, while in Taiwan, the decrease can be as high as 7%. In Russia, overweight is also a pressing issue. Over the past five years, the proportion of overweight adults has risen to 62.5%. However, there have been no comprehensive studies examining the impact of being overweight on the wages of Russian employees.
Anastasiia Deeva, a visiting lecturer and doctoral student at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, analysed data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey conducted by HSE University (RLMS-HSE) for the period 2013 to 2022. This population-based survey enables researchers to track changes in the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the same individuals over time. The final sample of Deeva's study included data from 17,000 respondents. The average age of participants was 41, the average monthly salary was approximately 37,000 roubles, and the average BMI was 26.22—classified as slightly overweight.
Anastasiia Deeva
Body mass index has its limitations—for example, individuals with high muscle mass may be classified as overweight according to BMI. 'The BMI of a well-built athletic person may incorrectly suggest excess weight, but only if they have a very high muscle mass. However, this is much less common than actual overweight. Therefore, on average, BMI remains a useful measure for identifying the effects of being overweight,' Deeva comments.
BMI and wages can be subject to reverse causality: on one hand, overweight employees may face discrimination and earn less; on the other, employees with higher wages may be healthier and slimmer due to better nutrition and more frequent exercise. Deeva used a customised model that accounts for these caveats, enabling a more accurate assessment of BMI’s impact on wages.
The analysis revealed that in Russia, each one-point increase in BMI is associated with an average 4% decrease in monthly wages. This means that individuals with a normal BMI of up to 24 and those with a BMI of 34, classified as class I obesity, can have a wage difference of approximately 40%.
For a more convenient interpretation, the author constructed a second model that used the logarithms of BMI and wages in order to estimate the relative change in the indicators. She found that a 10% increase in BMI corresponds to an approximate 9% decrease in wages.
Additionally, the relationship between BMI and wages was found to be non-linear. An initial increase in BMI leads to a sharp decline in wages, but after reaching a certain threshold, the relationship weakens and wages decline more gradually.
This suggests a pattern of bodyweight-based discrimination in the Russian job market, where overweight individuals face fewer opportunities for high-paying positions, which in turn negatively affects their families’ well-being.
'It is important to recognise that discrimination against overweight employees is not truly about their appearance but rather stems from social stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding obesity. In modern society, it is commonly assumed that an overweight person is more likely to be lazy and unmotivated, which sends a signal to employers that such an employee may underperform. I believe this is the main reason behind lower earnings,' Deeva argues. 'However, every individual is unique, and appearance has no bearing on workplace performance. Therefore, relying on a one-size-fits-all, BMI-based approach to hiring is misguided.'