Diary of a Fat Housewife: A True Story of Humor, Heartbreak, and Hope

Green, a former beauty queen, was once slim, but with each of her first five pregnancies (she has six children), she gained more weight, until she exceeded 300 pounds. Making no excuses for her weight, this ``last honest fat person in America'' began a diary in 1982 to record her pain, valiant dieting attempts and frequent relapses. Her story chronicles the daily life and eating habits of a person suffering from ``morbid obesity.'' Green adamantly insists that obesity is a disease like alcoholism or diabetes, and that the only effective remedy is to change one's eating patterns forever-one day at a time. The author punches holes in fad diets, rejects the ``big is beautiful'' philosophy, deplores ``fat discrimination'' and dismisses the excuses obese people make about their weight. She also stresses the importance of supportive friends and family. Although still over 200 pounds, Green has not given up her goal of being thin again. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Jan.)