Getting ahead at work isn’t always as easy as we think it should be. There’s always the office politics that make it hard for those who are just plain good workers to get ahead. And we all want to get ahead. Who doesn’t want the better paying job or the more prestigious job or the raise that “one person” will get on the floor?

So how do employees set themselves apart. How can possibilities and opportunities for advancement and promotion be maximized? There are, of course, many things you can do to stand out as a “shiny apple” in the work place:

1. Be productive; be more productive. Be more productive than your neighbor and be more productive than you were yesterday.

2. Good attendance: This sounds more like a schoolroom mantra than a tip on getting the next available promotion at work, but attendance is vital. Employers will not see a poor attendance record in anything but a poor light.

3. Cognitive abilities: you should always be working on getting better. Increase your problem solving skills, gain more knowledge, learn how to be creative and innovative on the job.

4. Be a good example of what a “good worker” would do.

5. Don’t depend on first impressions, but make good ones anyway. They are considered along with further performance.

So how do you do all that? Well…it’s possible that you could do all that by losing weight. The results of weight loss often include all of them 1-5. Statistically…losing weight definitely increases an individual’s chances of being hired, promoted, and offered raises. Overweight and obese individuals are historically underpaid in comparison to their co-workers and equal counterparts in the industry.

Why, you ask? It’s an odd issue. Many say it is founded strictly on stereotypes. They say that many see all overweight and obese individuals as exhibiting negative characteristics like: laziness, slovenly, unproductive, etc. While these terms don’t define or even apply to many who are overweight or obese the stereotypes live on and they follow individuals right into their professional lives.

But regardless of what some believe…it’s not ALL about the stereotypes. There are statistics supporting the issue. Overweight and obese individuals often have poorer attendance records than their co-workers. This is said to be due to the increase in risk for many common illnesses and diseases that goes along with being overweight and/or obese. This makes them what some would consider a higher risk as employees.

So an effective weight loss diet can really benefit an individual’s professional life. They will most likely experience higher energy levels that will boost productivity. They will most likely experience clearer cognition. They will be able to exhibit greater creativity and problem solving skills. And more often than not…they have better attendance records once they reach a healthy weight.

Making the most of your professional life is a really important aspect of gaining overall satisfaction with life. And if accessing a good weight loss diet can accomplish the task…why not give it a try? There’s really no harm in trying. It’s only offering fantastic possibilities at work, at home, and in the future.