The impact of obesity on labour market outcomes in the UK and the EU

In the UK one in four adults is obese with a high risk of diabetes. According to the National Health Service
(NHS), only in England in 2017, almost 30% of the adults and almost 20% of the children are classified as
obese. According to the Eurostat (2019), the numbers do not provide a different picture for the EU. The
consequences of obesity are complex and multi-dimensional, such as poor quality in daily life of
individuals and their general health status as well as it imposes an increase in the cost of health services
which can be either private.
Labour economists are highly motivated to study the impact of this public epidemic in the labour market
regarding the way that it affects individuals' productivity, relations on workplaces, job experience and
labour market outcomes. My research will analyse the impact of obesity on the labour market outcomes
in the EU and in the UK in terms of the probability of individuals to find a job and its impact on their
wages. Additionally, I aim to provide insights regarding the way that obesity contributes on determining
the probability of individuals to be denied a job promotion, job position, and opportunities for work
related trainings. Furthermore, I will focus also on the way that obesity impacts the growth of wages of
employed. My findings will provide important information regarding the variation that European countries
penalised obesity regarding significant but less explored labour outcomes.