Get Little Fatty ..

There is a new cultural revolution afoot in China, according to this news story.

An obese Chinese teenager, Qian Zhijun, is the new Internet star in China, and has a moniker 'Xiao Pang', which apparently means 'Little Fatty'.

When his photos first appeared on the web, he was hurt and upset. But now, described as 'the face that launched a 1000 clicks' by China Daily, he is seeing the upside of being famous as his face is 'pasted' digitally on celebrity bodies and he is well-recognised in China.

In this story, many are reportedly seeing the threads of rising obesity and the issue of state-control of the Web in China. I see something else too (no, NOT dead people!).

In addition to the growing numbers of obese people in China, there is probably a rising phenomenon that being obese is not so unnatural and celebrity and fame can still be milked out of it.

Set in the context of fat acceptance movements, the rise of Fat Studies as an academic discipline of sorts, are we heading towards a new definition, a new paradigm of what is normal BMI and normal weight, not withstanding the health implications of growing body weight stats? Or does this 'acceptance' only exist so others can enjoy the comic potential of an obese person, who apparently does not mind being made fun of?