Designated Fat Girl A Memoir

A brutally honest memoir of life as an obese woman—
the pain, humiliation . . . and hope

Jennifer Joyner was slowly killing herself with food. She didn’t know what to fear more: dying, or knowing that she was causing her own death. She was powerless to stop. She weighed 336 pounds. She had uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. She’d lost jobs and friendships, and her marriage was hanging by a thread. She disgusted herself. She couldn’t even attempt a sex life. She’d never felt so desperate or alone.

Designated Fat Girl tells her story. It is a painfully honest account of Joyner’s experiences as an obese woman—of always having to buy new clothes that fit, pretending to order for two people at drive-through fast-food joints, the constant cycle of binge and regret, not fitting into her wedding dress, the cruel comments. It’s a story about her decision to have gastric bypass surgery and the resulting complications. In the end, it is also a story of recovery and survival.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Great read & great for classes
I am a Sociology instructor and I am using this book for two classes, Deviance and Women & Health, which cover the topics of the perception of obesity in America and eating disorders. I have had many “normal” size students unable to grasp the issues and POV surrounding overweight individuals. This book articulates these issues in a personal and accessible way. It was a compelling read, and I feel it gave a clear and personal voice to the topic of obesity.

5 Stars Riveting Memoir
This is one of those memoirs you simply can’t put down. Jennifer Joyner is surprisingly honest about her experiences, and her intimate tone and sense of humor really make you care about what happens to her. I was really struck by how she talked about food as a very real addiction that people don’t acknowledge. And the wedding chapter very nearly broke my heart. She is an amazing woman with an extraordinary story. I highly recommend this book to all women who have struggled with weight–and even those who haven’t. It’s a genuinely good story and well written.

Buy/More Info