Denmark has just asked the European Court of Justice to rule on the case of a childminder who was dismissed because he was too fat. His employer criticized him in particular for not being able to bend down enough to tie the children’s shoes.
This man, Karsten Kaltoft, weighs 160 kg. A weight that he admits to having gained due to bad eating habits but which, according to him, does not bother him in his work. He therefore turned against the Danish courts which, in turn, asked the European Court of Justice to clarify European legislation on this subject.
“Judges must decide whether obesity can be considered a form of disability and therefore trigger preferential rights in the world of work.” If the judges decide to classify obesity as a handicap, European employers will have to face new obligations such as adjusting the office mobilization or creating parking spaces reserved for obese people.
Obesity is the new weight standard in Europe
This decision of the highest European court is particularly expected due to the rise in the obesity rate in Europe.
A few weeks ago, the World Health Organization warned the European authorities about the prevalence of obesity in the various countries of the EU. In a report, the WHO indicates that Europeans are getting bigger and bigger: 27% of 13-year-olds and 33% of 11-year-olds are overweight. Obesity would even become the new weight norm in a majority of countries on the old continent.
