Old and Overweight: Another Kind of Double Jeopardy?

The authors examine whether the stigma of being overweight persists over the life course, coming to the conclusion that acceptability for overweight is increasing. They discuss the health-related, economic, and social consequences of overweight and note that gaining a little extra weight in midlife appears to have few consequences. But gaining a great deal of extra weight, especially earlier in the life course, sets young adults-particularly women-on trajectories that lead to fewer economic and social resources as they approach old age.