Fat Dudley, and Obesity in Canon

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 43222

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Judy Shapiro <judyshapiro at e...> wrote:
 
> Dudley *could* have a gland problem. Vernon and his sister Marge are 
also described as being overweight, and the inference I have always 
made is that Dudley inherited the genes for obesity from his father.  
My theory is that Vernon, Marge, and Dudley are fat because there are 
genes for obesity on the Dursley side of the family; Petunia, Harry, 
and Lily are thin or normal weight because there are no genes for 
obesity on the Evans side of the family. (Or on the Potter side, 
either, in Harry's case.)>

Dudley could have a gland problem, but based on the way JKR presents 
hsi character, I highly doubt it.  He is greedy with things other than 
food: toys, attention.  JKR to me seems to have made a point of making 
Dudley fat as a symbol of his greed constantly being fulfilled 
specifically by his parents.  Unfortunately, she casts a negative 
light on overweight people by making Marge and Vernon, two extremely 
nasty people, fat as well.  These are not people who show restraint.  
Marge cannot stop herself from criticizing Harry and Vernon makes no 
effort to control his temper, both at work or at home.  

I suppose JKR could have found other ways to show Dudley's unpleasant 
disposition, but I believe she used his weight to show how extreme the 
Dursley family is.  Perhaps it wasn't the best way to exploit weight, 
but there you go.  Also, considering how Vernon and Petunia simply 
give everything to Dudley, from food to toys, I'd say they are 
enablers, and enablers definitely fall into a category of abuse.  They 
have gone beyond bad parenting and created a kid who will not have an 
easy life, and if they can't see that, I question the love they have 
for their son, not his glands.

-jenny from ravenclaw ************************