Obesity — Its Possible Effect on College Acceptance

Abstract

CASUAL observation had suggested to us that obesity was less prevalent in high-ranking, so called "prestige" colleges than in public high schools. We therefore decided to investigate whether or not obesity affected college acceptance. If it did, it would have important implications for public-health programs directed at obesity.We chose for our investigation an outstanding high-school system and an Ivy League and a Seven Sister college.§ Our results did, indeed, indicate that there was less obesity in the colleges than in the high schools. No differences were found in academic criteria and application rates between obese and nonobese high-school students. . . .