When Does Big and Beautiful = Overweight?

I wrestle with this question.  African-American and Latina women tend to have a healthier body image than women of other races.  Although I don’t believe you have to be stick thin or weight obsessed to be beautiful, I do believe in being healthy.  Your body mass index (BMI) can help determine your healthy weight range based on your height. But even without a scale, we know when we’re in shape and when we’re not.

"Precious" star, Gabourey Sibide

Several stars of the Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry-produced “Precious” are zaftig. The movie hits theaters November 6th, and is based on the brilliantly brazen novel “Push” by Sapphire.  The compelling drama tells the tragic-yet-triumphant story of abused, illiterate and overweight teen Precious Jones, and co-stars Mo’Nique, Sherri Shepherd, and newcomer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe.

Mo'Nique stars as an abusive mother in "Precious."

Mo’Nique is best known as a comedian and advocate of being big and sexy.  But she recently lost weight after a wake-up call from her husband.

“I was very comfortable at 262 pounds,” she told Oprah.  ”I’m in the bathroom mirror one day admiring 262.  And [my husband] says, ‘Mama, how much do you weigh?’  I said ‘262.’  And he said, ‘Mmm.”

"View" host Sherri Shepherd dropped 41 lbs.

Sherri Shepherd has become a poster girl for weight loss success after dropping 41 lbs.; a measure she took to control her diabetes. Sidibe, who plays the title character Precious, however, told New York magazine that despite the press and the public’s perception of her based on her character, she’s extremely comfortable in her own skin:

“They try to paint the picture that I was this downtrodden, ugly girl who was unpopular in school and in life, and then I got this role and now I’m awesome,” she told the magazine. “But the truth is that I’ve been awesome, and then I got this role.”

What do you Hot Mamas think?  When does big and beautiful cross the line and become unhealthy and overweight?

Image credit: PCN, Newscom