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Fat is suddenly fabulous, at least on TV, according to an article published in Wednesday’s Star-Telegram. While ultra-svelte or buff bodies have traditionally ruled the so-called small screen with the exception of a few character actors here and there, this may be the case no longer.

Drop Dead Diva, a show about a rail-thin model reincarnated as an overweight lawyer, is scoring the highest ratings for a new Lifetime series since 2007. Ruby, a show about the adventures of 500-pound Ruby Gettinger has earned Style Network its best numbers. And this past spring, The Biggest Loser provided NBC with its best Tuesday-night viewership in four years.

So, what’s going on? According to the article written by Neal Justin, it is most likely due to more Americans identifying with overweight and obese people than ever before. Obesity rates of adults and children continue to soar, a fact that has resulted in barriers of plus-sized people appearing on television shows and in the movies being broken. In fact, more robust stars are earning fans and getting lead roles than ever before. Another reason is that reality TV has captured the interest of American television watchers like never before, and watchers like tuning in to shows that depict people struggling, and perhaps overcoming, their weight challenges. Some people have even indicated that tuning into shows showing people transform from obese to fit has been a motivator for them to accomplish similar achievements with their own lifestyle.

Like many other television shows, however, some people dislike the names of shows like The Biggest Loser, saying it is disrespectful to individuals who are overweight, although others disagree. Those who dislike the title say that people who are obese already face enough social stigma without a flippant name to a television show that showcases extreme size. Those supporting the name, however, say that what it really is saying is those who lose have the greatest to gain – and isn’t that the grand prize in the end?