Jessica Simpsons Pregnancy Weight: Why Everyone Has an Opinion
Simpson is being alternately vilified and championed for seemingly gaining more than the recommended 35 lbs. during pregnancy. Since when is a big pregnant woman news?
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Jessica Simpson, whos first child is due later this month, is an absolute porker.Dont get mad at me; I didnt say it ob/gyn Tara A. Solomon did, to Slate journalist Torie Bosch.
Solomons not the only one maligning the pop singer and fashion diva. Simpsons very voluptuous silhouette is generating tons of commentary, both positive and negative.Theres plenty of disgust, from the likes of the Views Joy Behar, who flat-out said the girl is fat.But Simpsons also getting you-go-girl props from the likes of fellow celebrity mom Tori Spelling, whos urging detractors to lay off,and Sarah Palin, who was so outraged she told Todays Matt Lauer she would have wanted to punch [naysayers] in the neck. Ouch.
(MORE:How Moms Weight Before Pregnancy Can Affect a Babys Brain)
From a medical perspective, there is valid concern about a woman gaining too much weight. Women of normal weight prior to getting pregnant are advised to put on between 25 to 35 pounds. Gaining more or being overweight pre-pregnancy can make moms more prone to developing gestational diabetes and more apt to give birth to heavier babies, who can be harder to deliver. Of course, its not public knowledge how much weight Simpson has gained or how much of her expansion is actually due to overindulging in buttered Pop Tarts; the star has said shes retaining amniotic fluid.
What rankles is that in our looks-are-everything society, Simpsons critics are pretending to be worried about her health when theyre in fact fretting about her figure. Dr. Solomon toldSlate: No one should ever look like Jessica Simpson. Shes an absolute porker I cannot believe how heavy she is.
Simpsons curves have long been tabloid fodder. She was gaining weight, then losing it, then being criticized for popping out of her Daisy Dukes. In actuality, Simpsons refusal to be bullied into nibbling on protein bars and frozen grapes alone is pretty refreshing, particularly among the glitterati. Shes large and loving it and doesnt seem to care what others think. I too gained 50 pounds with each of my three kids, by eating healthy and indulging in a few too many chocolate brownies. I knew I was eating more than I should, but I was hungry! Being pregnant was liberating, not an excuse to let myself go but an opportunity to eat peanut butter straight from the jar without feeling guilty. Pregnant women are supposed to be big, and I knew that I would slim down after the fact, just as Simpson will if shes so inclined.
(MORE:Is There an Obesity Tipping Point in Infancy?)
If theres a single truth in the glut of commentary that Jezebel is referring to as the hunger shames, its that Simpsons weight is her business. Nine months on, nine months off is the slogan pregnant women often hear about how long it will take them to slough the baby weight. In truth, Simpson will likely drop her excess pounds much quicker if she cares to. Celebrities are renowned for losing their baby bulk seemingly before they even leave the hospital, with the help of teams of trainers and dietitians. If Simpson partakes in the same low-fat fare that actress-cum-natural-foods-guru Bethenny Frankel consumed after she gave birth in May 2010 a muffin for breakfast (arent muffins typically dense with oil?) and BBQ chicken and half a sweet potato for dinner she can kiss 35 pounds goodbye in two brief months! Frankel was featured in a photo link entitled Jaw-dropping post-baby bodiesthat was ironically inserted in the same Us Weekly post that featured Spelling and Palin telling Simpson critics to get lost.
Unfortunately, the only thing getting lost here seems to be Simpsons right to consult with her doctor then eat whatever and gain whatever she chooses.
Bonnie Rochman is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @brochman. You can also continue the discussion on TIMEs Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.
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