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Fat Wars

Anna Wintour's remarks about Oprah's weight sent fat-acceptance activists into overdrive this week. Marisa Meltzer writes about the fat-shionista backlash, including a bestselling new book—Lessons From the Fat-O-Sphere—that argues that the best diet is no diet at all.

Published May 19 2009 12:38PM EDT

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---beth-ditto_ujricd — Dave Hogan / Getty Images

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---beth-ditto_uzagkv — The lead singer of The Gossip proudly adorned the cover of Conde Nast's fashion magazine Love.
Dave Hogan / Getty Images

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---queen-latifah_s2crys — The buxom Chicago star endorsed Jenny Craig in the past.

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---kelly-clarkson_mbigwc — The American Idol favorite's weight ups-and-downs has frequently been tabloid fodder but has no effect on her record sales. Her latest release debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---oprah_pcd6py — The talk-show queen is always on the cover of her O magazine, but the January issue was notable for her proclamation that she gained 40 pounds in the last year. She's since been on a mission to drop the weight.

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---jessica-simpson_yk3rxb — They were the mom jeans heard 'round the world. Simpson's infamous concert appearance made countless magazine covers. She's since been seen toned up and back in her Daisy Duke shorts.
Larry Marano / Retna Ltd.

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---rashad_cckgym — The 60-year-old Cosby Show actress made a public announcement she was trying to lose weight and has stuck to Jenny Craig's 1,200 calorie a day limit.
Mark Mainz / Getty Images

galleries/2009/05/19/fat-wars/fat-wars---kirstie-alley_f3zvts — After flaunting a slimmed-down figure on Oprah's show in 2007, Kirstie Alley gained back all the weight she lost after becoming a vegetarian. Newly minted Jenny Craig spokesperson Valerie Bertinelli has offered her assistance in guiding the Veronica's Closet star.
Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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