Bias against fat people has roots in other forms of prejudice found in American society. Size discrimination is often an added burden to those people suffering from other forms of oppression:

Sizism and Sexism - Women, more often than men, are the victims of size discrimination in employment, education, and adoption. Fat women also suffer more social discrimination based on size.

Sizism and Racism - People from some ethnic groups (e.g. Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans), who face discrimination based on ethnicity, have a genetic predisposition to be heavier than white people, who serve as the base for tables of "ideal" weights.

Sizism and Ageism - Older people, who are often discriminated against in areas such as employment, tend to gain weight as they age (a physiological phenomena). Employers with stringent weight restrictions often do not allow increased weight with age, and suspend or fire those older persons not meeting the weight requirements.

Adapted from material prepared by Carrie Hemenway for the 1990 NOW Conference.