The 2011 Egyptian comedy ‘X-Large’ stars Ahmed Helmy in the role of Magdy, an obese cartoonist whose half-hearted attempts at dieting are each cut short by his own gluttony and low self-worth. Eventually, the death of a loved one, coupled with a traumatic breakup, push Magdy to take drastic steps towards losing weight. In the process, he draws the comic book that propels his career to new heights, lifting him out of a deep depression. Watching ‘X-Large’ as a teenager, my main takeaway from the film was that happiness and professional achievement could only come within Magdy’s reach once he had – quite literally – shed the weight of his own self-doubt. His obesity was first and foremost a moral failing; a symptom of poor discipline and self-esteem. This portrayal is in line with the deeply problematic way that fatness is seen in Egypt: as far back as the 1940s, obese characters in popular media have often been shown as corrupt and unintelligent. These stereotypes are not confined to the screen, but also bleed into the real world. Speaking to The Arab Weekly in 2019, sociologist Samia Al Saati explained…
From Colonial Ideals to Malnutrition: Why Fatphobia in Egypt Is a Class Issue
June 7, 2023
