# Why is Buddha depicted as fat?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-buddha-depicted-as-fat/206190
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 8, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-buddha-depicted-as-fat/206190 "2003-10-08T01:05:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@bahamut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahamut)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-buddha-depicted-as-fat/206190/1 "2003-10-08T01:05:22Z")
I’ve been a buddhist for a while but everywhere I see a Buddha it is always the fat “americanized” version. This does not correspond to most models of Buddha (e.g. more authentic eastern versions). Is there a reason for this? Is this some Buddha other than Shakyamuni? When did he go from thin to fat in statues?
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### Author:  [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-buddha-depicted-as-fat/206190/2 "2003-10-08T01:34:09Z")
An earlier thread: [Was Buddha really that fat?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=215034)