Ashlee Simpson has leapt to the defense of her elder sister Jessica, branding reports criticizing her weight "embarrassing and belittling."

The blonde star has been pictured with a fuller figure of late, prompting some media outlets to speculate she is expecting a baby with football star boyfriend Tony Romo. But sister

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Ashlee has taken offense to the reports because she is sick of celebrities' weight dominating the news agenda while Americans celebrate their new President Barack Obama.

She writes on her blog, "I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister's weight. A week after the inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman's weight or figure as a headline on Fox News. All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms and just because you're a celebrity, there shouldn't be a different standard. Is this something you would say to your wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, or even a friend? I seriously doubt it. How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure? Now can we focus on the things that really matter."

And Jessica Simpson's former personal trainer insists the star is perfectly healthy and has the right attitude towards her figure.

Harley Pasternak tells Extra, "She has curves where a woman needs to have curves. We all go a little bit up and a little bit down. But she's healthy. She's still sexy. She's still a beautiful woman. And I have no problem with the way she looks. I think if more people looked the way she looks now, the country would be a lot healthier. I think Jessica has a really healthy perspective on her healthy body image and looks like a woman. I would take her body any day over somebody who's emaciated and looks unhealthy."

What do you think of Jessica's weight gain? Inconsequential or too much? Let us know in the comments!

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)