Lena Dunham posts side-by-side before and after pictures to show being thin isn't everything

It's fair to say that there's a profound double standard when it comes to women's bodies and their weight in Hollywood. Rarely are the ladies of the entertainment allowed to not be slim, trim and youthful without being bombarded by criticism and abuse from misogynistic trolls.

One person who knows this all too well is actress and comedian Lena Dunham. Dunham recently went through a hysterectomy as a treatment for her endometriosis, and as a result, has put on some weight. She posted a picture to Instagram snap showing her weight gain, to prove that being thin isn't the be-all and end-all.

The majority of Instagram users were very supportive of the pics. Commenting on the picture, one person wrote: "I understand & feel you. When I was sick(er) I was happy to lose the weight but silently bashed my body in my head. I was in pain...I had zero appetite & taste buds. It’s been a tough ride. I’m heavier now and healthier too. I’m learning to accept my new ‘normal’. I love your stories...the truth...the hurt...the love. Thank you...♥️"

Another person added: "Thank you for being so open about your experience as a woman. You have the power to effect change in young women’s lives. Thank you for using your platform in such a positive and inspiring way," and another wrote: "Thank you for being such a positive role model for girls everywhere!!❤️ [sic]"

In a recent profile written for the New Yorker, Dunham opened up about her surgery, stating: "When my surgeon was like, ‘You have the most misshapen and diseased uterus I’ve seen in my entire career,’ I was like, This is vindication ... "

She also spoke about her breakup with musician Jack Antonoff, stating: "Our relationship probably lasted longer than it should have. He’s a very loyal person, so he was not going to bail when the going got tough. He literally held my hand while I got an enema on New Year’s Eve while his family celebrated. But when you’re sick, so much energy goes into making sure the other person is well that you’re not even noticing maybe our schedules aren’t compatible."

She added: "Maybe we want different things out of our lives. Maybe we have different attitudes about what family means. Maybe these essential questions that people have to ask themselves all the time are not being asked, because we just want to make sure that I don’t pass out at the grocery store."

Personally, I think that Lena is an inspiration - not just for being so body-positive, but also for coping with a lot of trauma and stress in her life. We could all take a leaf out of her book and learn to love ourselves a little bit more, don't you think?