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Workplace Health Promotion - A Call for Fair, Inclusive, and Science-Based Approaches

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Workplace Health Promotion

A Call for Fair, Inclusive, and Science-Based Approaches

Weight-focused policies on improving employee health can be a double-edged sword. While well-intentioned, it risks reinforcing weight stigma and cause more harm than good.

The Malaysian Obesity Society (MYOS) supports efforts to improve employee health and wellness. However, we wish to raise important points about the use of Body Mass Index (BMI) in workplace policies, especially when it affects promotions or job evaluations.

BMI – Useful but Limited

BMI is a common measure, but it has its limits:

  • It does not show the difference between muscle and fat.
  • It doesn’t reflect where fat is located or how fit someone is.
  • It can mislabel healthy people, especially those with more muscle or unique health conditions.
  • Using BMI alone may lead to unfair treatment in the workplace.

Health and Fairness Matter

Workplace health policies should be fair, science-based, and supportive of long-term health.

Weight is affected by many things: genes, illness, medicine, stress, sleep, and our surroundings.

Obesity is a complex health condition—not a personal failure. It needs support and real solutions, not blame.

The Harm of Weight Stigma

Restricting promotions based on weight alone is an example of systematic weight stigma. Weight stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, assumptions, and discrimination directed at individuals based on their body weight. Reinforcement of weight stigma can result in:

  • Stress, low motivation, and poor health
  • Counter-productive efforts against weight loss and health gain
  • Barriers for people with obesity to seek help and support
  • Worse long-term weight and health outcomes

Let’s focus on supporting health, not judging size.

A Better Way to Promote Health

MYOS encourages regular complete health check and interventions that includes:

  1. Body composition (like waist size, body fat %)
  2. Fitness levels (strength, flexibility, endurance)
  3. Health indicators (blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol)
  4. Mental well-being, sleep, and stress
  5. Focusing on health gains from weight loss rather than weight-loss targets alone.

These metrics are more meaningful predictors of fitness and health risks than sole reliance on BMI. Health promotion works best when it is positive, practical, and inclusive.

Recommendations from MYOS

To create a healthy and fair workplace, we suggest:

  1. Recognizing obesity is a complex disease, and the management of obesity is long term and not linear. 
  2. Creating a supportive and inclusive workplace for all, including people living with obesity.
  3. Design and enforce long-term policies that address the obesogenic environment.
  4. Strengthen policies that respect and support people living with obesity.


MYOS and other professional health associations are ready to work with all stakeholders to build fair, respectful, and evidence-based health policies.


Together, we can make workplaces healthier and more inclusive for everyone.

 

 

End of statement

Malaysian Obesity Society (MYOS) Council 2025-2027