Sizing Her Up

Camryn Manheim is proof that talent can succeed despite a tide that goes against you, the tide being the anorexia image being promoted in the media for women (“She’s Made Her Case a Bit Too Well,” by Paul Brownfield, June 20).

In truth, a person who is overweight can be in excellent health if they are not obese (defined as in excess of 25% of their ideal body weight), and if they can and do exercise regularly at the level of any other fit person. The ideal of an overweight person being healthy and happy may not be politically correct, but it is medically correct.

Through most of recorded history, a woman shapely and plump was considered beautiful. It is only in recent times the thinking has changed. Art museums are full of works by great masters showing plump, shapely women. So what should women do? Starve to fill Hollywood’s expectation of what they should look like?

The truth is over 50% of all women in the United States are overweight according to the surgeon general. Hollywood should be knocking down Camryn Manheim’s door since she looks like the average American woman. Hopefully she and others of her size will get some good parts, and the image of women in the media will get more realistic.

MICHAEL L. STEMPEL

West Hollywood

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Talk about a created popularity.

I think it borders on cruel to use photos of the slim actresses Lara Flynn Boyle and Calista Flockhart to illustrate the supposed beauty and fictitious high fashion of Camryn Manheim. I find both Lara and Calista delightful to look at, charming on the screen and beautiful. Would you use photos of Camryn and Kathy Bates to illustrate the beauty of the thin woman? I doubt it.

What Manheim espouses is dangerous, telling girls in high school that it is OK--even liberating and healthy!--to be fat. Sorry, I am not buying that nonsense. Get some exercise and stop with the ice cream already.

(By the way, I am not employed by Hollywood.)

B. DIRK YARBOROUGH

Santa Ana

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Brownfield states: “The older she gets, the more at risk she is for heart disease, diabetes and other ailments.” Nowhere does he mention the toll Hollywood takes on the body for “correct beauty.”

Let’s see, I’m sure having liposuction is real good for the body. Saline breast implants are just like popping a vitamin. Anorexia must be a great alternative to sit-ups. And let’s give it up for collagen lips, that must be as good for your health as, say, broccoli.

At least Camryn Manheim’s risks are natural. How many Hollywood actors can say the same?

DAN KAGAN

West Hollywood

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I am truly getting sick and tired of Camryn Manheim’s “crusade” to make everyone believe that fat is beautiful.

Why is it so hard for people to understand that thin people are that way because it’s simply in their genes to be skinny. As a 5-foot-7, 115-pound female, I can vouch for Calista. It is possible to eat whatever you want and not gain any weight. There is such a thing as moderation and a junk food-free diet.

OK, Camryn, we get it. Fat may be beautiful, but please stop thinking of thin people as your enemies.

LAYLA AZAM

Aliso Viejo

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I was astonished that there was not one mention of one very famous fat woman who has established an incredible career: Rosie O’Donnell.

Rosie has been paving the way with her role in “Grease” on Broadway, her roles in many movies, hosting the Tony Awards, and her enormous success as host of her daytime talk show. In fact, if Brownfield had read Manheim’s book, he would have found the forward was written by Rosie as a tribute to her friend Camryn.

DORIS MELNICK

Rancho Palos Verdes