` ` XL ' '' It outlines how obesity is changing the daily lives of Americans . Author Sarah Smith does n't see it as a fat - shaming or fat - advocacy book . During her 2Â½ years of research , Varney found that obesity can have a chilling effect on sexual relationships , from physical barriers to intimacy to attitudinal shifts with weight gain and even loss . Body image activist : ` ` There is not a magical BMI gene that produces fat . End of story ''
` ` XL ' '' It outlines how obesity is changing the daily lives of Americans . Author Sarah Smith does n't see it as a fat - shaming or fat - advocacy book . Body image activist : ` ` There is not a magical BMI gene that produces fat . End of story ''