Britney 'fat'? Oops ... weight-watchers did it again

It was supposed to be the comeback of the year, an over-hyped, eagerly anticipated revival of a stalled career. But, after Britney Spears performed her new single "Gimme More" at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, she left shocked viewers asking for less.

Clad in a black sequined bikini and knee-high stiletto boots, the 25-year-old pop star wobbled around dazed, confused and poorly rehearsed. Critics universally panned the performance, but in a society that worships skin & bones, the most scathing comments were aimed at her weight.

Terms such as "fat," "bulging," "pudgy" and "flabby" peppered most of the post-show analysis about Spears, with many naysayers faulting her for donning an outfit they thought she wasn't fit to wear. Actually, it would be nice to know what kind of shape some of these critics are in. It's almost certain that more than a few are sporting their share of flab.

And for those who consider Spears to be overweight, a glimpse around some of the shopping malls and local cineplexes might clarify what "fat" actually is. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 60 percent of Americans need to drop major poundage; no doubt many are the same ones lobbing barbs at Spears.

But all the tongue wagging over her alleged weight gain is yet another disturbing example of the constant scrutiny women are under in a culture obsessed with thin celebrities.

Source: www.mercurynews.com