Feeling like you don’t fit into the social norms for weight (meaning that you feel too fat or too skinny) can cause stress and depression, according to a new study discussed here. If I’m reading this correctly, it’s not based on whether you are, in fact, too fat or too thin, but whether you perceive [...]

Filed under: International, Science | 7 Comments »

What do Oprah, Britney Spears, and Kirstie Alley have in common? They’re all part of the phenomenon that one writer calls weightertainment: our obsession with how much people weigh or don’t weigh. She blames Oprah for starting the trend, and posits that the best way for a celebrity to gain attention these days is to [...]

Filed under: Britney Spears, Celebrities, Feminism, Gossip, Kirstie Alley, Meta, Oprah, Tyra Banks | 23 Comments »

This obesity map of the United States is currently under discussion at The Usual Suspects. The interesting thing is that, according to the map’s data, obesity in America has sharply increased since 2004. As Beth points out: “What in the hell is going on? That’s not just fast food and television; those things have been [...]

Filed under: Media, Question, Science | 13 Comments »

For a meta trainwreck, feast your eyes on the trouble brewing between Big Fat Deal and My Fat Spouse. It’s in the comments here and on their board here. Apparently Big Fat Blog is talking about it too. Here is what Crash of My Fat Spouse has to say (my comments are in brackets):

Filed under: Meta | 56 Comments »

Two bits of celebrity news I just had to share. First of all, in a rare instance of fatism against male celebrities, Ryan Gosling reportedly was fired from The Lovely Bones for being too fat. And also annoying. But mostly fat. A source tells Us Gosling “was fired” because “he just gained too much weight!” [...]

Filed under: Celebrities, Food, Gossip, Magazines, Movies, TV, Weight Loss | 13 Comments »

We don’t have a category for “Thinism” or “Weight Gain” and maybe we should. Miss England has been told to gain weight if she wants to win the Miss World title. Supposedly, this is to set a better example for the youth of tomorrow. Which is, of course, binge eating. Miss England says: Miss World [...]

Filed under: Eating Disorders, Feminism, International | 15 Comments »

Oops. I got married before I read this article, reinforcing the old adage that people who get married gain weight. (At least men gain more than women, for a change.) Women in their teens and early 20s who continued to date but didn’t cohabitate gained an average of 15 pounds over five years; their male [...]

Filed under: Food, Science | 22 Comments »

I am so sad and pissed off that the amazing, inspirational Fat Girl on a Bike has had to put her blog on hiatus because people are assholes. (The previous link doesn’t work, and her photo has been pulled from the BMI project.) Sarah explains: The last straw was a very lengthy discussion on another [...]

Filed under: Fatism, Meta | 27 Comments »

Several readers passed along this article, the moral of which is simple: don’t compare yourself to the contestants on The Biggest Loser. Kai Hibbard, 29, from Eagle River, Alaska, lost 118 pounds last season. She recently wrote on a blog that in the two weeks before the finale she severely dehydrated herself using asparagus (a [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | 14 Comments »

I was on a plane yesterday and I bought a couple of magazines, including the new issue of OK with Ricki Lake on the cover. The headline is “Thin, 39, and Looking for a Man.” The article is called “How Ricki Stays Thin” and you can read it here. (Interestingly, she claimed that her weight [...]

Filed under: Celebrities, Gossip, Hairspray, Magazines, Ricki Lake, Weight Loss | 20 Comments »

Just a tiny administrative note; sorry for all the spam over the past couple of days. I was out of town without internet access and unable to keep an eye on it. I’ve tightened the spam filters a little more; if you have problems posting, please drop me a line!

Filed under: Meta | 3 Comments »

The article is called “How To Look Like A Plus-Size Model.” But, I’m sorry, if I ever put bronzer on my double chin to make it “recede,” you have my permission to stone me to death with Double Stuf Oreos.

Filed under: Fashion, Humor, Tidbit | 11 Comments »

In order to lose weight, a significant percentage of British women turn to drastic measures… like cocaine. And that’s not the only shocking statistic in this little (not at all scientific) poll! Thirty seven per cent had taken slimming pills, 15 per cent had taken speed or cocaine and 26 per cent had used laxatives [...]

Filed under: Feminism, Health, International, Meta, Weight Loss | 12 Comments »

I’ve noticed that the BFD readers I know who have lost a lot of weight without surgery (such as Pasta Queen) and kept it off have done it on the South Beach diet. Passed along by Kari, this New York Times article reviews the new book Good Calories, Bad Calories, theorizing that carbs, not fat, [...]

Filed under: Food, Health, Science, Weight Loss | 34 Comments »

Hot LA label Grey Ant featured a plus sized model who ROCKED the catwalk yesterday. Girl was fierce! However, as excited as I was by this, last I checked, Grey Ant (which is the label Fergie wears a lot, not exactly a ringing endorsement, I know) doesn’t actually make plus size clothes. Maybe they’re about [...]

Filed under: Fashion | 13 Comments »

Another find from the referral logs; a “confession” of “fat sins.” As a girl who was raised Catholic, the format really struck a chord. I love the idea of getting absolution for your fat sins. (That’s what happens when you confess, right?) I’m one of the slobs conservatives talk about who buys a 12-count box [...]

Filed under: Advocacy, Cold Hard Cash, Food, Health | 16 Comments »

I thought you guys would be interested in Gwen’s post today. She starts off posing some hypothetical reasons you might want to lose weight, and some less good reasons for losing weight. Then she talks thrift stores: Other times — times when I’m fatter — I hate thrift store shopping because, apparently, fat people never [...]

Filed under: Fashion, Question | 28 Comments »

beautiful sunday Originally uploaded by mo pie I love this pool. I just want to go through each one of the pictures and exclaim over your beauty. I check the pool several times a day to see if anyone has added a picture. More pictures! Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! We are very pretty. [...]

Filed under: Advocacy, Art, Fat Positive, Question | 4 Comments »

I don’t watch Heroes, and I hadn’t heard anything about this, but the awesome Laurie does, and she sends in this report. (Spoilers from the October 8 episode, entitled “Kindred,” are included.) I’m not sure how many of you out there watch “Heroes” but I’ve become a fan – both because I love a good [...]

Filed under: Fatism, Guest Post, Meta, Question, TV | 34 Comments »

Check out this group of rockers from China (you have to wait for a stupid commercial before the video loads, but it’s worth the wait). I think I have a crush.

Filed under: Fat Positive, Music, Video | 2 Comments »

Okay, we know you guys think so. (And you think she’s both evil and fat.) And according to friend of the blog Ken Wheaton, Anthony Bourdain called her evil publicly. Why? Because of her Dunkin’ Donuts endorsement: Bourdain told Outside magazine, “I’m not a very ethical guy. I don’t have a lot of principles. But [...]

Filed under: Advertising, Food, Question, TV, Tidbit | 37 Comments »

Here’s another liberating thought: So what would it look like to be beautiful today? That’s a hard question for most girls and women. The quick response would usually entail adjectives such as taller, thinner, blonder, straighter teeth, wider eyes, smaller nose, or a myriad of other physical features. What if you looked in a mirror [...]

Filed under: Advocacy, Feel Good Friday, Meta, Tidbit | 18 Comments »

In the comments recently, pdxwoman noted that she doesn’t think of the mudflap girl as “fat.” It’s a timely observation because I was thinking one day recently that I wish I’d made her more curvy. I wasn’t sure it’s clear that it’s supposed to be the chubby version of the mudflap girl. Then I went [...]

Filed under: Art, Meta, Tidbit | 23 Comments »

She lost her kids, she’s losing her dogs, she might be going bankrupt, she’s made a sex tape, her house was robbed, and TMZ and Chris Crocker each owe her one, big time. And it’s totally Taco Bell’s fault! [D]o you think some of Britney’s downward spiral might be her toxic diet? We’re glad she [...]

Filed under: Britney Spears, Celebrities, Fatism, Video | 22 Comments »

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a weird fixation with the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. Maybe it’s because I secretly feel like a fish out of water or maybe it’s because Ariel’s songs are perfectly in my register or maybe it’s because I’m fascinated with Ursula the Sea Witch. You know, [...]

Filed under: Fatism, Theater | 27 Comments »