Kirstie Alley

Last week Kirstie Alley parted company with the Jenny Craig weight loss program.

"Fired for being too fat!" shouts the National Enquirer headlines.

Oprah Winfrey is arguably one of the most influential people around. If she endorses a book - it becomes a number one bestseller overnight.

Recently Kirstie Alley chose to appear on the Oprah show to promote her own weight loss story and "new" body.

Both of these women are role models - but how helpful are they when it comes to either weight loss or self-acceptance?

This time of year the magazines are heavily embellished with sensational weight loss stories. Some are uplifting, some believable, and some are nothing but hype.

Kirstie Alley has featured heavily (no pun intended - honest!) - with dramatic before-and-after pictures. She promotes the weight loss program Jenny Craig, and has been appearing in a new round of TV commercials. Apparently because she's not fat anymore - "It's Raining Men..."