Obesity stereotypes and anti fat attitudes influence the social behavior of middle school students according to a study presented last June at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Using a series of questionnaires and fat and thin silhouette figures, the researchers quizzed 176 boys and 141 girls between the ages of 11 and 16. More than half the students were Hispanic, 37 percent were Caucasian, and 11 percent were African American. Overall, the students reported negative stereotypes for the fat silhouettes, including a negative view of their character and health. Positive responses to thin figures and negative responses to fat figures were more numerous among the Caucasian and Hispanic students. In addition, boys were less willing than girls, and Caucasians and Hispanics were less willing than African Americans, to spend time with a person considered fat.