OBESE workers earn almost £2,000 a year less than slimmer colleagues - with large women almost £9,000 a year worse off.

Eye-watering figures from a LinkedIn study also found a third of obese jobseekers had been passed over for a job, promotion or pay rise because of their weight.

And more than a quarter classed as a “healthy” weight believed slimmer colleagues moved up the ranks quicker than them at work.

But men reported getting more negative comments about their weight than women.

LinkedIn spokeswoman Ngaire Moyes said: “Our research suggests that there is a clear correlation between how people are treated at work and their weight.

“It’s sad to see that bias based on size is still an issue in the workplace in 2018.”

Last month a global study found the obese endured more prejudice than any other group even compared to ethnic minorities, gay people, women or those suffering mental illness.

The World Obesity Federation report said 62 per cent of of adults in the UK believed people were more likely to suffer discrimination for being overweight - more than any other category.

And almost half suffered stigma and discrimination due to their weight that put them off looking for help from their GP or hospital.