Are there any novels about fatness/weight loss?

[eggyweggies]

Not diet books or 'how-to' type things...more novels exploring what it means to be fat these days, or where the main character loses a lot of weight...does such a thing exist?

I would say don't read Big Brother if you are overweight and having a low self esteem day..there's some pretty hard to take stuff in there..

A Matter Of Fat by Sherry Ashworth is a warm, funny book about a slimming group. Don't know if it's still in print, but you can probably get a copy on Amazon.

Pearshaped is about a woman who loves her food, works with food is a normal size but her boyfriend has issues with her size. The books looks at their relationship and her relationship with food.

I really like fiction books that deal with food. But I accept that this may not be exactly what you are looking for.

Am off to order the Wally Lamb book though.

Eating Myself, Candida Crewe

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl it's a diary style book and it's honest and heartwarming.

Blubber ,
ooh I forget who wrote it, author also wrote Deenie & Are you there God, it's me Margaret

Captain that was Judy Blume. Another great writer for teens.

The Life and Loves of a She-Devil also has a focus on weight loss (as well as more extreme body modification).

You could try 'The Wife's Tale' by Lori Lansens. Very much about weight, food and self-belief/confidence.

I enjoyed Pearshaped, but

the male character was such an absolute, total arse, I did not understand what she saw in him.

That's a general chick-lit failing though, the male characters are often two-dimensional and deeply unappealing.

I would second Good In Bed.

I loved 'The Wife's Tale'. Lori Lansen is such a warm writer. It is a very self affirming book.

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

I came on to say, 'Thinner' but have been beaten to it! I suspect it's not at all the kind of thing you're after though!

Also beaten to, 'The Edible Woman' but imagine that's much more what you want.

Another one chiming in with She's Come Undone. Wally Lamb has such empathy with his female characters, and Dolores is completely unforgettable. One of my favourite ever 'escape' reads.

I was going to mention Dietgirl too - it is parts of her RL blog and very inspirational.

I am reading Big Brother at the moment. Assign robe who is overweight I find her depiction of how weight gain and loss occurs really unrealistic.

Making it Big by Lyndsay Russell. Not weight loss per se, but imagines what life would be like in a world where fat was beautiful - the protagonist becomes a model and is generally revered until she begins to lose weight.

slightly left of field, but Scruples by Judith Krantz is a classic from the 70s for good reason, it's an absolute belter of a read.
www.amazon.co.uk/Scruples-Judith-Krantz/dp/0751539929
This reviewer puts it very well:

I adore this book. It taught me about glamour, sex, independent women and the magic of self-transformation at an early age and I return to it regularly for inspiration and a fix of old-fashioned eighties razzle dazzle. The story of how fat Honey Winthrop becomes slender, strong Billy during a stay in Paris - whilst learning how to dress perfectly from observing Parisienne couture, no less - and then goes on to found the most glamorous purveyor-of-dreams department store in America is an inspiration. I doubt this book was intending to be a self-help guide for girls in need of a boost but it always cheers me up when I'm down, strengthens me when I'm feeling wimpy and motivates me to stick to my diet! I challenge any woman to not laugh and sigh and recognise something of her dream self reading it.

when I was a teenager I had a book called big girls don't cry. It was about a lady called Marina was a very overweight binge-eater until she was offered to take part in a weight-loss drug trial.
the book was very focused on Marina's relationships with family and colleagues and how they changed during her 'journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and remember it to be thought-provoking but like I say, I was a teenager at the time so I could be remembering it wrong!

What about 'Lady Oracle' by Margaret Atwood.

I just remembered ' the soldier son trilogy ' by Robin Hobb. they are fantasy but one of the main themes is extreme weight gain and people's attitudes and prejudices towards the over-weight. It's very unusual and surprising to find fantasy books using weight as a theme and this trilogy is nothing like her others but I firmly recommend them.

Jemima J was the first thing I thought of too... I read it years ago. Quite an easy/good read.... Standard "chick lit"

Just read "She's Come Undone" after seeing it on this thread - it was brilliant - so thanks to those who recommended it.

Jemima J is a stupid cliched book that I wouldn't recommend to anyone - fat clever girl gets thin and wins the man of her dreams who wasn't interested in her when she was fat.

I really enjoyed Dietgirl as well, read it in a single sitting! I also liked a book called Fat by Rob Grant; it's set in the future where morbid obesity is common and so the government set up a program to help. It's quite funny and thought provoking.