CENTEREACH, N.Y. (AP) — Officials at an upstate New York high school are investigating a teacher who used a class lesson to make fun of girls who struggle with their weight.

Newsday reports (http://nwsdy.li/1IR9shN ) a fashion and sewing teacher at Centereach High School handed out teaching materials last month titled "How to Not Look Fat" with pages that disparaged "back fat" and offered advice on what to wear.

A student in the class says some of that advice was to not wear shorts if their thighs are touching. She says the lesson's message was that being skinny is right.

Middle County Central School District superintendent Roberta Gerold called the teaching material "inappropriate" and says the district and the school are investigating.

The teacher could not be reached by the newspaper for comment.