As a medical professional, you know that being overweight or obese greatly affects your health. The CDC notes that approximately 1/3 of American adults are obese, and that type 2 Diabetes and heart disease are linked to being obese or overweight. Your health is not the only area of your life that suffers when you are overweight and out of shape. A lack of fitness also negatively impacts your career.
When you search for a job or develop your career, you need to be aware of how factors other than your educational credentials or professional experience influence people’s perceptions of you. The moment an interviewer first lays eyes on you, he or she starts forming an impression about your suitability for a job. Fitness influences these perceptions.
Why Being Fit Helps Your Career
Fitness provides you with certain physical and social benefits that enable you to advance your career. These 5 facts indicate:
- Weight Influences Earnings (for Women) – We are all familiar with the volume of weight loss materials targeted for women. There is actually an economic reason for it. One famous study found weight gain associated with reduced income and occupational prestige for young women. If you’re a woman who wants to maximize her income potential, being fit benefits you.
- Exercise Lifts Your Mood – Put yourself in an interviewer’s shoes. Would you feel comfortable recommending someone to your boss who did not smile and exhibited a downbeat attitude? Research studies demonstrate that fitness leads to a good mood. Once you are in a position, a positive attitude allows you to deal well with patients and colleagues.
- “High-Energy”- The healthcare field makes many physical, emotional, and intellectual demands on practitioners. If you maintain a strong fitness schedule, it increases your energy level. From my experience, a high energy level enables you to come across as more ready for a job’s challenges.
- Healthy Body, Healthy Mind – You must constantly learn new things and face challenging patients in the healthcare field. Regular exercise boosts memory and helps your decision-making. Keep a fit body to so you can focus on your career.
- Fitness Buddies Become a Social Network – Many people do not like to exercise alone. If working out on a treadmill sounds boring, join a sports team or an exercise class. The people you meet can help you grow your career. Remember, you can exchange job-seeking information with someone who is merely an acquaintance.
Put Down the Fries to Help Your Career
Attaining your fitness goals is hard work. The demands of career and family make it difficult to eat healthy and exercise regularly. It is easy to kick back after a hard day at work and grab a cheeseburger and fries. A lack of fitness, however, hurts your earnings and career prospects.
To have a successful career, you need more than just good credentials. You must work well with others and convince them that you are serious. Fitness improves your mood, energy level, social network, and overall appearance. All of these factors contribute to a strong professional image and the ability to establish the relationship necessary for career advancement.
Sources
http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2005/may/research_shows_womens_weight.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389
http://greatist.com/fitness/13-awesome-mental-health-benefits-exercise
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
