Doctor Slams Overweight Ditto

Professor Michael MCMahon, a consultant at a private healthcare company in the U.K., claims members of the public are more likely to be overweight themselves if they see photos of larger stars in the press.

MCMahon insists public perception of chubby stars has changed and more people see bulky frames as "acceptable" - which encourages over-eating and poor diets.

He says, "The increasing profile of larger celebrities, for example Beth Ditto, means that being overweight is now perceived as being normal. We talk about the dangers of skinny media images, but the problem swings both ways. The increased acceptance of obesity is alarming."