I was startled by the headline on the 9/4/09 Norwich Bulletin’s Style & Fashion page: “Plus-size sales shrinking.” Spending for plus-size clothing (larger than a 12) has decreased to the point where many stores have moved their plus-size sections to the web. Since the average size in America today is a 14, the majority of us are now “plus.”
Here’s where business comes into play: The average earnings for a plus-size woman is $2.64 an hour lower, for doing the same job with the same level of expertise and the same credentials. I think that’s skewed to the low side because as you go up you find very few plus-size women. So it should not come as a surprise that there is a correlation between being fat and being poor. It may not be fair but it is a fact. One can bemoan the inequities or spend that time and energy getting healthy. From a business standpoint, there is also a correlation between being mentally sharp and physical activity. There’s a new book out, Die Fat or Get Tough. It’s a hard-hitting, “no excuses” message that many of us will benefit from. The principles in this book don’t just apply to weight loss. They apply to all facets of our lives.
