Would you hire someone visibly anorexic?

[Ncncncncc]

I’m looking for honest (even if brutal) answers.

Yes - if you don't because of health is discrimination.
If capable of doing the job and qualified etc why wouldn't you?

Not sure whether there are safeguarding things in place of harming themselves and you can offer support but that is best asked to a lawyer or HR team

You’re aware that you’re discriminating though, right ? You’re not allowed to ask a potential employee about their health even if a disability is staring you in the face, so you’re assuming because they’re thin, they have an eating disorder.

Employers who discriminate never actually tell you that's what they're doing.
They simply don't employ you and tell you they had applicants who performed better at interview than you. Sad, but true. I can see people's faces when my huge ass walks in!

There is plenty of evidence that people who are overweight are discrimated against...even though in theory it's not allowed.
To address your point though, very brutally people who are overweight often experience their server ill health/death in a delayed manner. Sadly, very seriously anorexic people are at high risk of sudden very severe health issues and in patient treatment.
In answer to the original point, in theory and legally it shouldn't matter, but I would be worried about employing someone with very entrenched mental and physical health issues. I would feel very conflicted making reasonable demands on them in the workplace that might not be in their best interests in terms of their health.
OP, if this is you I would urge you to seek help if you have not already, don't give up your professional ambitions and I hope you are able to recover enough to enjoy all the fun of life and work for a long time to come.

Yes if they could.do thr job. It would be discrimination not to hire and we're in.a big company with great support. Perhaps it would be their chance to break free too.

A.while back I gave a chance.to a guy to keep his contract although he screwed up massively and is verging on being an alcoholic. We had a bit of a heart to heart and I told him it was his last chance. He sent me a card last week saying thank you and so far so good, 7 months sober. Back with his fiancee and baby son. Always give a chance if you believe the person can do the job.

I'm speaking from experience here, an anorexic is never the best person for the job. My daughter has told me of the unseen aspects of the illness; poor mental function, obsessive thoughts, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, constant extreme coldness, paranoia, nausea, poor coordination, aches and pains, extreme tiredness etc. In short she could barely function whilst on the outside masking it to appear 'normal'.

Knowing someone who is visibly anorexic it can be obvious at a certain stage

Does she ACTUALLY or is she just not fat and you're just getting into a huff over imaginary discrimination?

As someone who was in recovery, IRL I've genuinely never seen any non-anorexic person outside of an anorexia ward OR high fashion modelling (not catalogue or Instagram modelling), who looks actually anorexic in the medical sense. And this includes the time I used to live in Asia (99.999% of women are very slim compared to in the West)!

My last workplace did. She was great. She tended to avoid the social events though.

Of course it isn't. Nor does not employing someone who looks visibly frail and ill constitute discrimination.

Non

I just wanted to send my love and say that I suffer from an eating disorder (BED).

I would like to think that people aren’t discriminated on whether they look like they have an eating disorder. However, I suspect they might x

I wouldn't have an issue if someone disclosed that they had anorexia, more than if they had depression and we recovering from either.

However, I wouldn't employ someone who was considerably overweight or underweight, smoked or was covered in tattoos as they're likely to have poor judgment about other things too.

How can someone be ‘visibly’ anorexic? They can be visibly underweight, but how can you know the cause of that unless they disclose it?

Sorry, I’ve just read your update and don’t know how to remove my comment. Of course people should hire you if you’re the best person for the job - I would, and if I noticed someone looked particularly underweight I wouldn’t speculate about the cause. Best of luck in your job search 💐

See this is great. And big companies can take the risk and pay for support, which is smashing! Good on the guy. Social responsibility is important.

But just a reminder that small and micro businesses don't have this and can't take a risk. Doesn't make them bad people. They do things they can afford.

@Ncncncncc I would just like tp add to all of tjis that it's most likely not you. Job market worldwide went mental. Companies are looking for unicorns and anything less, doesn't do. Just look at how many ads get readvertised.

I agree with pp about civil service. Very little discrimination in my experience (may differ), blind recruitment, skill scoring rather than personality.

Not if I had to eat lunch with them. Anorectics talk about food as if it is faeces. I fully admit it might be good for me to lose a few pounds but I refuse to eat with someone who will be saying disgusting things and making me feel nauseous every day.

Yes,I was anorexic for years,I'm no longer actively anorexic and I was able to get through school,exams and then onto work perfectly fine.

That's nor anorexia from my experience at all.
That's other issues with food. You can find most on mumsnet

Anorexia is covered by the Equality Act 2010. It’s a mental health condition and meets the definition of disability as defined by the Act. As such the sufferer would have protection from discrimination in the workplace - or anywhere else for that matter - due to their disability. Any employer would be required to make reasonable adjustment as necessary to allow the disabled person to do the job.

It could be that they don't have enough money for food and that is why they are thin or it could be that yes they are anorexic. Either way Give them a chance.

Absolutely. Unfortunately more often than not they put a huge amount of pressure and problems at the feet of their manager or business owner and then are impossible to get rid of despite them not doing their jobs properly.

Depends on the role I was recruiting for tbh. But, yes, if they did well at interview, I would offer the post.

@Ncncncncc

Are you getting the support and treatment you need, OP?

Have you been able to discuss your search for a job with the staff supporting you?

It might be that your focus needs to be on getting well at this point, with a view to getting back into work perhaps during the summer.

How old are you, by the way?

Read your Equality Act Guidance. Employment Discrimination is a thing.