Fat college students struggle with many social barriers both at the academy and in the greater context of society. Individuals who are classified as overweight or obese are stigmatized as lazy or out of control and are less likely than non-fat people to make it to college (Crandall 1994). Much of the prejudice directed at fat individuals is based on incorrect and ill-researched assumptions about individual responsibility for weight and the impact of weight on health. The social acceptability of anti-fat attitudes makes it less likely for fat individuals to claim group identity even though this may be their best chance for social fit.
"Fat in College: A Social Overview,"
The Vermont Connection: Vol. 28
, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/tvc/vol28/iss1/7