What Gabourey Sidibe Can Teach Us About Obesity

Precious star Gabourey Sidibe isn't drawing attention because she's a talented actress-she's drawing attention because she's morbidly obese. Talk radio veteran Howard Stern blasted her in March 2010 for being "enormous," claiming her weight could prevent her from getting additional movie roles. Other blogs, including SableVerity.com, say "Gabourey Sidibe is probably too large to call herself healthy."

It's obvious Gabourey Sidibe is obese, but why are people slamming her for her weight, especially when most of Hollywood's female elite are made up of painfully thin celebrities?

What Gabourey Sidibe Can Teach Us About Obesity

It's a given that Gabourey Sidibe's weight probably isn't healthy--people who are significantly overweight are at a higher risk for heart disease, Type-2 diabetes and cancer. But these complications aren't necessarily caused by simply weighing more (what you eat is a more important factor). It's also a myth that your weight is an indicator of your overall health.

According to a study reported in USA Today, not all obese people-including Gabourey Sidibe-are unhealthy. 51 percent of overweight adults in the study had normal levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, factors that lead to common obesity-related health problems. Nearly one-third of the participants who were morbidly obese also fell into this range.

But the surprising statistics don't end here. The study also revealed one-fourth of adults in the "normal" weight range had unhealthy levels of blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol. Some of the normal-sized participants were actually more unhealthy than some who were morbidly obese.

Although a person's weight may be an indicator of his or her health, it isn't always a reliable measure. Gabourey Sidibe may be obese, but this doesn't necessarily mean she's unhealthy.

Gabourey Sidibe's Obesity and the Body Image Factor

The outrage over Gabourey Sidibe's weight also shed light on another problem currently affecting Hollywood: the non-acceptance of overweight actresses.

It's no secret that thin celebrities are favored over heavier-set ones-they're often the leads in movies and TV shows. Overweight women who are cast in TV shows or movies are often portrayed as unintelligent, mean or good only for a couple of laughs, stereotyping them in a negative light.

Singers aren't immune to this effect, either. Beyonce Knowles famously went on a liquid diet to prepare for her Dreamgirls role, losing 20 lbs within a couple of weeks. Lady Gaga, who sported a thicker frame in 2008, canceled some of her tour dates earlier this year after suffering from exhaustion, believed to be caused by her too-skinny frame.

But people aren't blasting Lady Gaga or other celebrities for their underweight frames, which can also cause health problems, such as amenorrhea, anemia and early onset osteoporosis. Are people simply confusing an underweight frame for optimal health or is there an active prejudice against overweight people? It may be both.

If there's something Gabourey Sidibe can teach you about obesity, it's this: Your professional and personal achievements aren't limited by your size. She's already accomplished plenty in Hollywood without having to conform to its standards of beauty. She's also teaching us that obesity isn't necessarily an indicator of poor health. Unlike other thin celebrities, she hasn't suffered from exhaustion or any significant health problems-in fact, no one really knows the state of her health except for her physician.

So, what can Gabourey Sidibe teach us about obesity? One main point: We can still be confident, successful and attractive even if we're obese. It's not her physical frame that serves as a good role model for girls-it's her mental frame of mind.

Sources:

Sable Verity, "I'll Say It: Gabourey Sidibe is Too Fat" (sableverity.com)
Unknown author, "Half of Overweight Adults May Be Heart-Healthy" (USATODAY.com)