Jennifer Lawrence Too Fat For Hunger Games By Critics “Toxic” Says Psychologists

Jennifer Lawrence’s appearance as Katniss in the box office smash “The Hunger Games” has some critics saying she was too hefty for the part, potentially causing more damage to teen fans.

The New York Times wrote:

“A few years ago Ms. Lawrence might have looked hungry enough to play Katniss, but now, at 21, her seductive, womanly figure makes a bad fit for a dystopian fantasy about a people starved into submission.”

The Hollywood Reporter even commented on Lawrence’s “lingering baby fat.”

Psychologists are saying this criticism of Jennifer Lawrence’s appearance as being too heavy in “The Hunger Games” is “toxic” and “dangerous” to the many teenagers who are fans of the the the film and book franchise.

Kelly Brownell, a professor of psychology at Yale University, told ABCNews.com:

“These kind of messages are toxic…They pressure people, especially girls, to be at odds with their bodies and to fight against whatever natural weight they might have. They force into the public psyche an arbitrary and unrealistic ideal that is attainable by few and leaves a great many scars in its wake.”

Carol Bernstein, an associate professor of psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine had this to say about the issue:

“Having a strong woman character is always a positive…and it’s unfortunate that the discussion has been sidetracked. It’s very upsetting that the media puts so much focus on these kind of things, which makes young girls who are very susceptible to eating disorders think twice about how they look.”

Lawrence’s take on the media’s attention on her appearance and being a strong role model?

“I’m just so sick of these young girls with diets. I think it’s really important for girls to have people to look up to and to feel good about themselves.”

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