I Work at a Fitness-Related Company. My Colleagues' Reactions to My Major Weight Loss Are Concerning.

"My job is fully remote, with quarterly in-person "conferences" that last a few days. My company is fitness-related, and people are paying a lot of attention to weight. Over the past year, my doctor nailed down a long-term health condition I didn't know I had, and we worked on treatment. As a result, I've lost about 60 pounds. Almost all of it was in my body."

"One of these days, someone is going to give you an answer you are not prepared for: a gastrointestinal disease, chemotherapy, or bereavement. This falls under the general prohibition against commenting on someone's appearance at work (see: " Why are you so sweaty?" and " Those pants sure are tight "), but even more so because the poor person you're talking to has probably heard unwelcome comments about their weight their entire lives."

An employee works fully remote and attends quarterly in-person conferences at a fitness-focused company where coworkers closely monitor weight. The employee lost about 60 pounds after receiving treatment for a previously undiagnosed long-term health condition, with most loss from the body while facial fullness remains visible on video. At prior conferences coworkers asked about medications like Ozempic and made insulting remarks about appearance. A response states that commenting on coworkers' weight is generally prohibited and potentially harmful. The response warns that weight changes can indicate serious illness or bereavement and that such comments are invasive and inappropriate.

Read at Slate Magazine