Fewer callbacks for a heavier-looking photo
- Published in
- J Hum Resour 2009
- People studied
- –
Identical job applications with a photo edited to show obesity got fewer interview callbacks: about 6 percentage points fewer for men and 8 for women.
- Published in
- J Hum Resour 2009
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
In Sweden, researchers sent pairs of otherwise identical job applications to real job openings. In one of each pair, the applicant's face photo was edited so the person looked like they had obesity. Those applications were invited to interview less often, by about 6 percentage points for men and 8 for women.
At a glance
- Type of study
- real-world experiment: pairs of made-up job applications sent to real job openings in Sweden
- Compared with
- the same application with an unedited photo
- Main result
- Employers called back identical job applications less often when the photo looked heavier.
- Strength of evidence
- Randomised trials
What this study does not show
This measures employers' reactions to a photo, not real applicants or what happened after the interview. It was done in one country, and for men the authors link the gap to rated attractiveness more than to weight.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on money and work
- Pay gap linked with obesity, in women over 50Long-term or observational studies · Lundborg et al., Adv Health Econ Health Serv Res 2007
- Pay gap linked with obesityLong-term or observational studies · Danso et al., Obes Rev 2026
- Fewer callbacks for a heavier-looking photoRandomised trials · Rooth, J Hum Resour 2009
- Income gap for women with higher BMILong-term or observational studies · Tyrrell et al., BMJ 2016
- Hiring bias against candidates with obesityRandomised trials · Flint et al., Front Psychol 2016
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