Weight discrimination: Are colleges preparing their graduates for successful employment and careers?

Abstract

Background: Colleges are uniquely positioned to influence both the short and long-term health and well-being of students through implementation of interventions to prevent and/or treat obesity among students; and have a vested interest given obesity has the potential to impact students' matriculation, graduation, and career prospects.

Aim: To illustrate the essential roles of colleges to influence obesity prevention and treatment given the potential to influence the students' matriculation, graduation, and career prospects.

Methods: The discussion begins with an overview of the prevalence and societal implications of obesity. Next the implications for higher education with respect to matriculation and graduation, the influence of higher education on lifestyle behaviors, and the influence of obesity on academic performance. This is followed by the influence of obesity on students' post-higher education lives, including potential discrimination when seeking employment, and the impact that the nature of the jobs that graduates attain may have on their health and well-being.

Results: There exists a great need to reduce the prevalence of obesity and colleges are well positioned to provide leadership and direction.

Conclusions: Implications for colleges are set forth, with ways in which they can play a role in promoting student health detailed.