However, many women gain independently – with no feeder in the picture. 'If you look through history, fat used to be – and still is in many cultures – considered beautiful,' Terry continues. 'The stick figures that walk down the runway wouldn't be considered capable of surviving a famine or sustaining a pregnancy. In certain African tribes and in parts of Nigeria girls still go to "fat houses" to be fattened up before marriage. In our own society we have completely different images of beauty thrown in our faces every day – but that doesn't mean that there aren't those who have different preferences.'