Mo’Nique’s 'Phat Girlz' has been out for two weeks and has made about $5 million at the box office. This isn't a truckload of money, but the BV community is passionate, as well as deeply divided, about the film and the "fat acceptance" philosophy behind it. In an age when weight-related illnesses -- high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease -- disproportionately afflict black people, folks have a lot to say on the issue of cultural acceptance vs. health risks. And what about the movie itself? Read on and see why that's only a small part of the discussion. When you are done, hit our boards and let us know what you think about 'Phat Girlz.'

Ready4Wah Says: Why is Mo'Nique constantly embracing the enemy? I don't see anything wrong with loving yourself, but let's be real. FAT is unhealthy and it's killing black women. She should be playing up eating healthy, exercising and working out instead of flapping her gums about how BEAUTIFUL being fat is to her. I think black women should love themselves for who they are.... but, always strive to improve your health and appearance. Mo'Nique sends the WRONG message out there to impressionable teens and I think she needs to reword her message. Do ya feel me?

Niatate Says: I do give her props because she didn't let her weight stop her from reaching her goals. It's hard enough for black actresses to get jobs in Hollywood, however black and overweight is extremely hard.

Pankysweet Says: She is saying love yourself and don't let ignorant, mean people put you down because of the way you look. We are all God's children, big and small. Lift each other up! Not saying don't take care of yourself healthwise. People!!!

Jcecappy Says: If you don't like her style of jokes, why continue to bother with it. There are far more pressing issues. Hopefully some overweight teen does hear her message about loving herself so she won't sell herself short and become sexually active, make poor sexual decisions and end up with HIV/AIDS.

EternalDance Says: I have to disagree with you. If you tally the number of black women that have died due to complications brought on by being overweight like diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, heart disease, heart attacks, strokes you would see that the numbers are astronomical compared to those dying of HIV and AIDS.

AftertheRainDew Says: Thin doesn't mean healthy. I applaud Mo'nique for having such high self-esteem. She knows who she is and she's proud of it. Strong women like her encourage other women to enjoy life and embrace themselves and love themselves. She doesn't let her circumstances rule her, she rules her circumstances! Mo'nique is doing what a lot of celebs are frightened to do & that's being a happy successful woman who's overweight in Hollywood!!!! You see all these Lindsay Lohans, Hillary Duffs, Nicole Ritchies who are all starving themselves because they all know if they gain weight it's ALL OVER!!!! Nobody will accept them. Luckily for Mo'nique she is successful & I'm happy for her!!!! I honestly don't believe she promotes being unhealthy...she's promoting loving the skin you are in.

Hawkina Says: I wouldn't be surprised if she changed her tune some time in the future. I'm sure many doctors have already told her the truth about her weight and the corresponding health concerns. I can see her getting a gastric bypass or something, losing 100+ pounds, and then talking about how being fat was killing her and she wanted to be here to see her babies grow up or something.

Anissa 1024 Says: Actually during Monique's Oxygen show... she took the ladies to the gym and gave them advice on eating right and exercising...she had already started to work out and eat right ... and started to lose weight before she got pregnant...so I think she does care about the health of black women... but she also wants them to be proud of who they are and understand that being a size 2 is not the only option...I'm a plus size women myself ... I eat healthy and work out 5-10 times a week, but I'm still plus size...fat or plus size doesn't necessarily mean unhealthy.

Asif Says: You know what makes me laugh about those against her movement? It is way too obvious that ya'll are thin. And while yes I am a big and beautiful woman of color I do have a valid point. I have actually read some of the posts and some of them play right into her theory. I read someone's post about giving young girls the idea that it is okay to be unhealthy. If you weren't so busy hating then you would have heard the message in between the insults and understood that she is merely saying be proud of who you are. Get a grip! Is it really bothering you that she is saying skinny women are evil? Or is that fact that if the two of you stood in a room together she might get more play than you? And good God we can't have that!

Sunglazed Says: Did anyone actually see the movie? I saw it and it was good. She wasn't putting down skinny women...she was talking about having self-esteem and loving yourself no matter what...the movie also showed the food issues that fat women have...it is not about weight...its about how much you eat...it would be good to see a 'Phat Girlz 2.'

Thickvixen67 Says: This is my first time posting a message to the board. I went to see 'Phat Girlz' on Sunday and it’s hilarious. There was a moral to the story. Monique plays a sales associate at a clothing store with a dream of being a fashion designer and she can't understand why the store manager won't allow her to give her input on providing a better clothing line for the full-figured department. It wasn't all about bashing skinny women.

Bbysweet304 Says: Black women, do not support this movie. There is an agenda to make these type of movies. This movie makes black women look stupid. Don't take your daughters to see this movie. It’s garbage. Crap. TWO THUMBS WAY DOWN.

Gdy2shu6 Says: I think Mo'Nique is doing what entertainers have been doing since the beginning of time. In a time where gastric bypass surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks are just an appt. and a credit card away, she's made the choice to stay a big woman. It could be because she's comfortable with herself...or because being big is her claim to fame and it makes her money. It's probably a combination of both. For years, fat jokes have reigned supreme. Why is everyone getting so up in arms now that the tables are turned around and a thin joke actually exists? I say calm down and continue to watch 'SNL,' 'MADTV,' or 'In Living Color' reruns where in at least one skit per show, someone is donning a fat suit.

Bbysweet304 Says: 'Phat Girls' is a disgrace. Monique was miscast as the issues she was dealing with should have been played by a person at least 10 to 15 years her junior. Simply put, she was too damn old for this role. I can't even get into some of the details of the movie, because it’s disturbing. At the end of the movie, you had a beautiful, fit black woman who still couldn't find a black man eating herself to oblivion to gain weight in order to get herself an African man. By the way, no black man wanted her other two friends because they were too fat. I'm still perplexed at the message this piece of a crap movie was trying to convey. The truth is no man would want the 'Phat Girls' not because of their weight, but they lacked maturity and had no respect for themselves. They were miserable, helpless, lazy, and possessed the inability to think for themselves. No wonder some of the people in the audience left.