Fiction
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
Bridget is a chick lit pioneer—and an early starter in the library of books about heroines with weight issues. Of course Bridget never really had a weight problem, except in her head. I never really figured out whether Helen Fielding actually thought that Bridget was legitimately chunky, or whether Bridget's obsession with her weight was meant to be ironic. (I also don't quite know why Bridget wasn't fat, with all the binging on chocolates and so forth that went on in the book!) When the movie came out, Bridget's character had gained about 10 pounds, so that Bridget as played by Renee Zellweger was a teeny bit voluptuous.
Jemima J by Jane Green
Now here is a book about a protagonist who really did have a weight problem. Jemima loved her bacon sandwiches, and it showed. Until one day she sent a computer-slimmed photo to a man she met on the internet, and finally gained the inspiration to diet and exercise her way to a truly slender Jemima. This is a bit of a fairy tale—there's a reason it's subtitled "A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans"—but in the end Jemima does learn a few truths (as well as achieve an appropriately happy ending).
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
After breaking up with her boyfriend, Cannie is shocked and upset when he writes an article about "loving a larger woman." She decides to participate in a weight loss group, and through her experiences there—and a dramatic surprise—makes some major changes to her life and future.
The Next Big Thing by Johanna Edwards
The Real World meets The Biggest Loser in this novel about a woman who wins a spot on a weight loss reality show.
How to Be Cool by Johanna Edwards
This time the protagonist has already lost the weight. Kylie Chase, a weight-loss success story (and former geek), now teaches others how to be stylish and popular and cool. She is ready to make a splash at a long-delayed high school reunion, and being interviewed by a popular men’s magazine. But then her perfect world starts to fall apart….
Conversations with the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer
Plus sized Maggie copes with her insecurities after childhood friend Olivia becomes svelte following gastric bypass surgery.
Eating Heaven by Jennie Shortridge
Eleanor writes about food for diet magazines, but in her own life enjoys food too much and too much food. But when her beloved Uncle Benny becomes ill, she transfers her food obsessions to cooking for him. This book is set in Portland, Oregon, and makes you want to go there immediately.
He Loves Lucy by Susan Donovan
This is a fun bit of fluff for everyone who wants and needs to lose a lot of weight. Lucy, a marketing executive, participates in a contest to lose 100 pounds and win a big cash prize. But maybe the real prize is her handsome trainer....
Alternate Beauty by Andrea Rains Waggener
Ronnie finds her job in a plus-size boutique in jeopardy—because she's too fat. Then one day she wakes up in an alternate universe where fat is the ultimate beauty and thin is despised. It's a dream come true—except now she's losing her appetite.
The Perfect Fit: Fat-Free Dreams Just Don't Taste the Same by Louise Kean
Sunny (who lives in Wimbledon, near London), has lost 98 pounds and now, as a thin, athletic woman, is able to save a child from kidnaping by chasing down the kidnaper. In doing this she begins the process of coming to terms with her own body and the idea of the perfect man.
Slim Chance (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) by Jackie Rose
Evie becomes obsessed with losing weight to fit into a Vera Wang wedding dress, as the dress becomes more important than the wedding -- or the marriage -- or the groom.
Memoirs
All these books could have essentially the same description—“author tells the story of her weight-loss experiences”—but yet each is unique, interesting, and inspirational. (And isn’t it good to hear of so many weight-loss successes?)
Passing for Thin: Losing Half My Weight and Finding My Self by Frances Kuffel
Literary agent Frances Kuffel tells her story of losing 188 pounds and how it changes her life. Her story is gripping, even as it portrays her in sometimes less than sympathetic -- or likeable -- lights. Kuffel used Overeaters Anonymous, although her book does not necessarily promote this program over others.
I'm Not the New Me by Wendy McClure
McClure is a sharp-tongued—and funny—narrator of her efforts to lose weight and create her weight-loss blog. She is also a connoisseur of the ephemera of the old-style Weight Watchers program.
Tales From The Scale by Erin J. Shea
A collection of stories about several women’s weight loss experiences.
The Weight-Loss Diaries by Courtney Rubin
The author starts her weight loss project with a magazine assignment to chronicle her weight-loss efforts in print. Her bittersweet experiences include coming to terms with a bingeing disorder and stories of her successes and failures.
The Incredible Shrinking Critic: 75 Pounds and Counting: My Excellent Adventure in Weight Loss by Jami Bernard
Bernard tells the story of a two-year weight loss effort and success.
Scoot Over, Skinny: The Fat Nonfiction Anthology by Donna Jarrell
Another anthology of weight-related essays, although not necessarily weight loss stories.
Til the Fat Girl Sings: From an Overweight Nobody to a Broadway Somebody-A Memoir by Sharon Wheatley
Wheatley writes engagingly of her childhood weight issues and how they eventually impacted her career goals of becoming a Broadway musical actress.
Teenage Waistland: A Former Fat-Camper Weighs in on Living Large, Losing Weight, And How Parents Can (And Can't) Help by Abby Ellin
The title tells the whole story.
Secrets of a Former Fat Girl by Lisa Delaney
Delaney, a free-lance journalist who has written for health magazines, lost 70 pounds and has kept it off for 20 years. Her entertaining book offers good tips and motivation, though it does promote the rather disturbing idea that size 8 is not good enough (Delaney is a size 2 and weighs 115 pounds at 5'4").
Diet and Self-Help Books
The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet by Nicholas Perricone, MD
Nicholas Perricone began his publication career by telling us how to stop aging and look younger by eating salmon and other anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic foods. Some of us (me included) found out that this plan also helped us lose weight! Apparently Dr. Perricone figured it out too, and hence this book. While the recipes are sometimes complicated, the plan, and concept, are are great! (Worked for me!)
The Forever Young Diet and Lifestyle by James & Joan O'Keefe
Another favorite for me, along similar lines as the Perricone plans.
Bob Greene's Total Body Makeover by Bob Greene
It worked for Oprah—the first time.
The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene
A kinder, gentler Bob Greene, with less of the boot camp approach. (It worked for Oprah—the second time.)
The Good Mood Diet: Feel Great While You Lose Weight by Susan M. Kleiner and Bob Condor
A new twist on the low-glycemic plans, focusing on how healthy, anti-inflammatory foods can also help improve emotional well-being.
Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being by Andrew Weil
Dr. Weil offers a whole life plan to care for your body and self.
Stop The Clock! Cooking: Defy Aging--Eat The Foods You Love by Cheryl Forberg
A great collection of recipes featuring anti-aging foods... Some of her recipes have been adapted for Dr. Perricone's books, and she has been a consultant for the Biggest Loser show.
The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston
As diet books go, this is one of the best--sensible, low-glycemic, and it works.
DVD and Video
Frontline: Diet Wars
An excellent overview of various diet programs and theories, including Atkins and Pritikin, hosted by Stephen Talbot (Gilbert on Leave It To Beaver), who takes on the weight loss challenge for himself.
Scientific American Frontiers: Fat and Happy?
Alan Alda explores obesity and weight loss in America.
Scientific American Frontiers: Losing It
This sequel to Fat and Happy follows several subjects who try various weight loss methods (including Alda, who does a stint in Weight Watchers).
Scientific American Frontiers: Surgical Slimmers
This program examines surgical weight-loss solutions.
13 novices train to run the Boston Marathon.
Supersize Me
Completely engrossing documentary of Morgan Spurlock's experiment eating nothing but McDonald's food for 30 days. He wrote a companion book which is even more in-depth, Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America.
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