If you found those posts interesting, you might also check out the actual comments on the story, because I think a lot of people who read it found that Jensen's self-hatred and body image issues resonated a lot with their own experiences. (I haven't gone back to check and see if any discussion of the broader issues has broken out in those comments or not, but if it hasn't yet I bet it will).

Weight is such a huge issue, to pardon the pun. I know for example in my own family genetics and hormones play a big role, but so does overeating and general lack of exercise. (For example, when my sister's commute turned, by necessity, from walking to driving, she put on a lot of weight, whereas for me the biggest recent weight gain was due to overstress at work and no time to work out, coupled I think with sleep issues). But I've been fortunate enough to have a mom who really had very few body image issues of her own, so it's not as emotionally fraught for me as it is for some people.