I don’t think people have to be stick thin but Kelly didn’t need to gain weight as she never was skinny to begin with. Anytime we say “so what” to people gaining weight who clearly don’t need to we are saying “so what” to heart disease and diabetes (heart disease is the leading cause of death in women). Kelly is too young to be gaining this type of weight in the belly and hips like that. She clearly has a binge eating disorder and needs help. I sure hope she cares more for herself and loses that extra 40 pounds she’s put on and doesn’t read blogs saying “so what” because it is a big deal, just being healthy. She never was skinny no, but she never was fat either and she is now unhealthy and fat right now.
Who’s weight gain I say “so what” too is Jessica Simpson. She could stand a little meat on her bones and the media was so stupid picking on her like they did, she is now the size kelly used to be before this explosion of unneccessary weight gain.

Thanks for your comment, Melly …
… I thought Kelly looked fine. I’m not advocating her gaining 100 pounds, but I think she’s in good shape. As for her clearly having eating disorders … how do you know?
While I have permanently removed over 50 pounds of excess weight, I think there is room for all shapes and sizes … health is the issue. The tabloids aren’t writing “Kelly is unhealthy.” Their focus in on her weight.

I caught a bit of her on FOX news and Wow, people are obsessed. America is completely obsessed with weight. I was wondering, “Does she give a crap what people are saying?” It will be intersting ot see what happens ot his line of thought in the new economy. Will people be focused on weight as a health issue instead of a beauty issue? Will they gain weight? Will a new idealized body shape emerge, less thin and athletic/boyish than the one we’ve been seeing.
Will people botox less and age more…?
Will we all feel less like we can’t keep up with the Joneses, and more thankful for what we have and what we are and how we look? The money that has gone into beauty these last few years — Whoa. We’ve been a beauty bubble there, too!

Interesting thought … what about the BEAUTY BUBBLE!!!
I for one am overflowing with gratitude for just BEING…
…

I’m totally disgusted with the mixed messages our American media sends out to women. This kind of coverage (as well as the “Tyra Banks is Fat!” “Jessica Simpson is Fat!” Jenneifer Love Hewitt is Fat!” articles over the years) is ridiculous and hurts not only the women it targets but every woman reading magazines or watching TV. Not only does it distort their image of themselves, it distorts the way other people see them (i.e. guys thinking only attractive girls are rail thin with big boobs), so unfortunately for us the damage is coming from all sides. I deal with it myself almost daily, the constant fixation of celebs’ weight leaks into my psyche and suddenly I’m constantly thinking about my weight.
I don’t think Kelly Clarkson has gained 40 pounds, but who really cares? From what I understand the average American woman is about 140-145 pounds and about 5’6″ or 5’7″ (Janice can probably school us with this knowledge, it might even be more or less). Kelly Clarkson doesn’t look like she’s anything other than average. By examining it as closely as the media has been over the past couple of days they are perpetuating the small mindset that women who are a little round around the middle aren’t healthy at all. As long as Kelly Clarkson isn’t eating Ho-Hos for her three square meals with a 2 liter bottle of Coke, she should just be left alone. I believe in living healthfully but happily; when Kelly Clarkson weighs 500 lbs. then we should worry about her “needing help.”

Katie, WELL SAID!!! I’m all for happy and healthy as well. Thanks for leaving a comment!!! So FUN!
AND … you are correct.
According to studies done in 2004 the average American woman is a size 14.
Janice a.k.a. Our Lady of Weight Loss

Thanks, again and again, OLWL, for reminding us that we are all beautiful, regardless of our sizes. I don’t watch AI, but LOVED Kelly
Clarkson’s song. Wow–what great pipes! So far, I’ve permanently removed 20 pounds, and am determined to remove a bunch more. In the meantime, I’m built for comfort, not for speed!

she’s gained weight. lets admit it. we care. but i dont.

As someone who has always struggled with a few pounds, I know what Ms. Clarkson is going through. However, I must say, after just watching her perform on SNL, that WHAT YOU WEAR can show every pound and sometimes in an unflattering way. It is proven time and again that wearing clothes that FIT are far more flattering than squeezing yourself into clothes that are obviously too small. I don’t know who her stylist is but they did not do her any favors tonight.

I agree with Katie, well said!
No wonder young women today have eating disorders.
I remember reading in the TV guide a few months ago about a yound woman on one of those reality TV modeling shows.
The young woman in the article was a size 10, and they referred to her as a “plus-size” model.
Since when is a size 10 a “plus-size”? Lets see.. that would make me “as-big-as-a-house size” at a size 14. I once fluctuated between a size 8 and 10, and I am working on getting myself healthy, shedding some pounds and excercising.

There is a difference between overweight and uncaringly gross. She is young and there is no excuse. She obviously has no interest in losing the weight. Her career will fizzle like a drop of water in the frying pan from which she eats.

What if she gains weight, this is not a matter of concern.