Dangerous Curves

Today, I spoke with an AP reporter about whether "curves" were in. By "curves", she was referring to plus sizes,. She cited Jennifer Hudson and America Ferrera as examples of the new popularity of curves. She wanted me to comment on how their recent popularity may mean that our society is becoming more accepting of plus-sized figures. Unfortunately, I can't draw the same conclusion, and in some ways, I don't want to.
I think we are a society that is struggling to find a balance between anorexia and obesity, and clearly both extremes are unhealthy. Every week, we hear of a new starlet that has entered rehab for an eating disorder, or who is photographed on the beach with her hipbones jutting out. Clearly, skinny is still in. At the other extreme, we also see a nation that is getting progressively fatter. For all our supposed obsession with being skinny, we are bigger than we've ever been. And now, there are organizations being formed that focus on "fat acceptance." But is accepting obesity any better than accepting an eating disorder? Both are unhealthy, both are extreme, and both can, and do, kill.
This may be controversial, but I don't think we can accept obesity, and it has nothing to do with aesthetics. Obesity is life-threatening, plain and simple, and our health care system is feeling the strain.
We need more America Ferrera's. She is not obese. She is not even plus-sized, at least not in my book. She is just a normal girl with a normal body, and she looks healthy and beautiful. Plus, she is an amazing talent. I hope we never see her starve herself to become superskinny, or gorge herself and become grossly obese, because she represents what is lacking in Hollywood, and in the country as a whole. She represents someone who has found a balance, who has healthy self-esteem, and who knows that she looks good, even if she's not a size 2.