Zellweger Role May Put Undue Attention On Weight Loss
Actress Gained, Lost 30 Pounds For Role
UPDATED: 5:02 pm EST November 15,
2004
OMAHA, Neb. -- For the new movie "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," Renée Zellweger was reportedly paid $122,000 for every pound she gained for the role.After the last "Bridget Jones" movie, Zellweger immediately dropped the 30-plus pounds. Some doctors say that is a dangerous precedent to set for average moviegoers.
James Lane, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, works with weight management. He said that many times, the way weight -- especially in women -- is portrayed in the movies can send a mixed message. And the rapid gain and then loss of pounds can be a health risk."It can lead to abnormal conditions in the heart and liver, so these are not healthy situations if you lose an inordinate about of weight for a long period of time," Lane said.Research shows that 40 percent of girls begin thinking about their weight by sixth grade. Some experts say that's probably because of the images young women are exposed to in magazines and movies.In the new "Bridget Jones" movie, Zellweger's character is a successful woman struggling with what she thinks is an overweight body. Lane and others worry about the message."The feeling that a lot of young women have about the desire to be thin, unfortunately, as we have seen in a lot of people, they are willing to go to extremes, which will actually damage their health," Lane said.Some of the health issues that can result from rapid weight gain and then rapid loss can be heart and liver problems and a development of diseases that normally would only be seen in obese people.Zellweger isn't alone in the rapid weight gain and loss. Robert Deniro gained 60 pounds for "Raging Bull," Tom Hanks lost 55 pounds for his role in "Castaway," and Charlize Theron gained weight for "Monster."
Video: James Lane, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, works with weight management. He said that many times, the way weight -- especially in women -- is portrayed in the movies can send a mixed message. And the rapid gain and then loss of pounds can be a health risk."It can lead to abnormal conditions in the heart and liver, so these are not healthy situations if you lose an inordinate about of weight for a long period of time," Lane said.Research shows that 40 percent of girls begin thinking about their weight by sixth grade. Some experts say that's probably because of the images young women are exposed to in magazines and movies.In the new "Bridget Jones" movie, Zellweger's character is a successful woman struggling with what she thinks is an overweight body. Lane and others worry about the message."The feeling that a lot of young women have about the desire to be thin, unfortunately, as we have seen in a lot of people, they are willing to go to extremes, which will actually damage their health," Lane said.Some of the health issues that can result from rapid weight gain and then rapid loss can be heart and liver problems and a development of diseases that normally would only be seen in obese people.Zellweger isn't alone in the rapid weight gain and loss. Robert Deniro gained 60 pounds for "Raging Bull," Tom Hanks lost 55 pounds for his role in "Castaway," and Charlize Theron gained weight for "Monster."
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