The Fattening Career File

The most famous paper with that exact title is: Core idea: Kitsuse applies labeling theory (drawing from Becker, Lemert, etc.) to obesity —not as a medical condition, but as a social process. He argues that becoming "fat" is not simply a biological fact but a career shaped by others' perceptions, labels, and reactions.

It sounds like you’re referring to a well-known article or concept in sociology, criminology, or deviance studies—likely by John I. Kitsuse (or possibly a related piece). the fattening career