Danielle Fishel Explains Why Topanga's Weight Loss Made Her Angry

A Closer Look at the Weight-Loss Storyline in Boy Meets World

Throughout its seven seasons, Boy Meets World has left a lasting impression on fans with its heartfelt and often humorous storytelling. While the show remains a beloved classic, some of its storylines have not aged as well. One such storyline involves the character Topanga Lawrence, played by Danielle Fishel, and her weight-loss journey. Fishel has been open about how this particular storyline affected her personally.

Fishel has spoken candidly about her past struggles with body image, which were compounded by the weight-loss storyline that was developed during the show’s seventh and final season. In an episode titled “She’s Having My Baby Back Ribs,” Topanga feels self-conscious about her body after Cory, her husband, believes she is pregnant. This storyline became a point of discussion when Fishel appeared on Pod Meets World, where she shared her thoughts with co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong.

During the podcast, Strong pointed out how uncomfortable Fishel might have felt filming the scene, but Fishel admitted that it was one she remembered vividly because she was being honest with herself at the time. She reflected on how her weight had changed over the course of the show, from 94 pounds at age 12 to around 115 pounds by the time she was 19. She acknowledged that as an actor, her body is part of her instrument, and she had to deal with the pressures of maintaining a certain appearance.

Fishel also expressed her frustration with the portrayal of Topanga's body image issues. She recalled a wardrobe fitting for a pair of jeans that were labeled as size 26 or 27, which equates to a 2 or 4. Despite knowing that a size four is considered very slim by most standards, she found it troubling that the show centered an entire episode around the idea that a woman in that size would be concerned about her weight. This made her feel angry, as it seemed to reinforce negative body image messages.

In hindsight, while it’s important to address body image issues through storytelling, Fishel felt that the way it was handled in this particular episode could have been more thoughtful. She noted that within the show, Topanga didn’t actually have any reason to be concerned, a point that becomes clear by the end of the episode. Fishel also questioned the messaging behind the jeans scene, saying:

"It was like in that scene, in this scene in particular, I was aware of, 'What are we saying to women?' And I felt it the most in this scene."

As a young adult in the public eye dealing with her own body image challenges, Fishel felt that this storyline came at a particularly difficult time. Rider Strong even admitted he could tell she wasn’t happy with it, leading her to say, "I was not happy at all."

Fishel isn't the only actress who faced body image challenges on a '90s sitcom. For example, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber revealed in 2025 that they were uncomfortable with a Full House episode where DJ (played by Candace Cameron Bure) goes on a strict diet to the point of collapsing.

The cast of Boy Meets World has been honest about their opinions on the show, with many of these reflections shared on Pod Meets World. For instance, Rider Strong expressed his displeasure with an alcohol-centric episode. While the series has its flaws, it still holds a special place in the hearts of fans. The honesty from Fishel and her co-stars adds depth to the legacy of the show.

If you're interested in watching Boy Meets World, it can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription.