Matt Damon looking like a bloated, 1970s, German sex pest is the talk of tinseltown, but it’s obviously just for a role. It’s always just for a role: except in the case of Kirstie Alley when it was more to do with a bacon roll. And a doughnut. And a steak. And… you get the idea.

Short of playing a war veteran, piling on the pounds and uglying up is the fast route to Oscar success.

Less than two years since Brazilian model, Ana Carolina Reston, died from her eating disorder and everybody wrung their hands about how terrible the whole modelling industry’s pressure is… the Brazilian media have piled into gorgeous Karolina Kurkova for being fat.

Wish I was ‘fat’ in that case.

An obesity drug has been approved for use in England and Wales – despite carrying a risk of depression or even suicide.

Do not exceed dosage… do not drink excessive alcohol… do not operate heavy machinery… do not listen to Nick Drake and look through old pictures of your ex who has Moved On Spectacularly.

Millions of people have a ‘fat gene’ that makes them more greedy than others.

If you are one of these unfortunates, you’ll take in an extra 300 calories in the course of an average day. Over time, this will lead to being overweight, and even obese.

Stunning Ali Larter, 32, who plays bendy ass-kickers Niki and Jessica Sanders in Heroes was once left sobbing about her weight gain.

Larter tells Allure magazine that while shooting on location, a film’s producers and director picked on her for piling on the pounds.

DietPixie’s brilliant new fitness expert, Myke Gray, will be giving you weekly advice on getting the body you want. In his first article, Myke lets you in on a cast iron weight loss weapon.

If weight loss is your primary goal, one of the most important things that you need to do is to find out your metabolic rate.

Where would we be without J-Lo?

Not happy with making us look good out on the town, the Hollywood diva now wants you to look good in the gym.

Now, of course, the ‘actress’ can do very little about the red face and the unsightly sweat patches.

She’s not a miracle worker, after all. But Jennifer Lopez is about to launch her range of exercise clothes in the hope of turning treadmills into catwalks. Just remember to sashay and pout while exercising.

Someone please give Jack Black a cheeseburger.

Why? Well, for starters, shoving it in his big, fat chops might shut him up.

Secondly, it could be the only way we can stop him from doing nude scenes. That’s right - nude scenes!!

‘Nude scenes’ and ‘Jack Black’ - if ever there was four words that should not appear together in the same sentence it’s that right there.

A High Court has told sacked air hostesses that Air India was right to fire them for being too fat.

Five Air India employees had taken their case to High Court after Air India had suspended staff who weighed more than 3kg over their maximum weight allowance.

Student-music’s answer to Dawn French, fashion lesbian Beth Ditto, has jumped aboard the Britton-bashing.

Speaking at the Glamour Awards this week, The Gossip’s Beth Ditto chastised Fern Britton for her decision to lose weight through a gastric band operation.

Although it’s a bit more nuanced than this, we’re delighted to hear that guzzling red wine like a Frenchman will undo all sorts of damage from a high-fat diet. That’s all the excuse we need.

Despite the penchant for pâté, cheese, butter and baguettes, the French have always maintained high standards of health compared with many of their less boozy, less cheesy Euro-buddies. It’s known as the ‘French paradox’ and it’s been pissing puzzled scientists off so much they’ve gone on a mission to crack the code.