The Weight of Fame: A Hollywood Tragedy
Summary
Tim Harford explores the dangers of rigid beauty standards through two cautionary tales. First, 1920s starlet Molly O'Day faced career ruin and dangerous surgery after gaining weight during adolescence. Second, Mary Linnon died from heart damage caused by the weight-loss drug Fen-Phen in the 1990s. Both stories illustrate how societal pressure drives individuals toward harmful "technical hacks" to achieve impossible physical ideals.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Grainger, UnitedHealthcare, Apple
Molly O'Day's rise to stardom in 1920s Hollywood
The studio system and Molly's 'miracle girl' status
Studio contracts, weight clauses, and Molly's suspension
Mary Linnon's wedding prep and Fen-Phen prescription
Molly's diet failure and dangerous 1920s weight loss trends
Molly's liposuction and Mary's pulmonary hypertension diagnosis
Mary's life with a mechanical pump and career decline
The legal battle against drug companies and Mary's death
Fen-Phen recall, settlement, and cultural commentary on body image
Molly's later life and show credits
Outro, Patreon plug, and final sponsors
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