Bure, who portrayed eldest daughter D.J. Tanner, recounted how the production team suggested she showcase her weight loss in the opening titles by appearing on an exercise bike. “I had lost, like, 20 pounds from the end of one season to another,” Bure began. “They thought it was great and they were like, ‘Oh, on the opening titles, why don’t we have you on an exercise bike, just to promote that.’ In hindsight, I don’t think that was bad. I really put a lot of hard work and effort into losing 20 pounds.”
She continued, “But the season before, I had an episode where Kimmy [played by Andrea Barber] and I were going to a pool party, and I didn’t want to wear a bathing suit. I did a crash diet to try to lose weight quickly, so I wouldn’t feel bad about myself in a bathing suit, and then passed out at the gym. These are struggles many of us face. But playing it out on television sometimes feels…OK.”
Related: ‘Full House’ Stars: Then and Now!
America grew fond of the Tanner family in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and fans were thrilled when the cast reunited for Netflix‘s Fuller House. See their then-and-now photos!
Bure further revealed that the writers had asked her and her parents beforehand if she was comfortable with the storyline. “I was like, ‘Yeah, sure,’ but when you’re in it and doing it, it feels a little awkward,” she added.
Danielle Fishel, who played Topanga Lawrence on Boy Meets World, also shared her experience of having her weight written into an episode, titled, “She’s Having My Baby Back Ribs.” In the season 7 episode, she and Eric (played by Will Friedle, 48) go on a diet in college, prompting Cory (her onscreen husband played by Ben Savage) to think she’s pregnant.
“I remember when they called me into the office to tell me about the episode, it wasn’t really like they asked,” Fishel recalled. “They just kind of said, ‘You know, we want you to know. Obviously, you guys have gained a little bit of weight, so we’re going to write an episode about it, and we just wanted you to know. And here’s what it’s going to be. It’s going to be really funny.’”
The actress noted that Friedle had a positive attitude about the episode at the time, which made her feel even more insecure. “I remember that the hardest part for me was that meeting because Will very much was like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m totally fine with it!’ Just immediately, which I know now he was very insecure and it was really painful and powerful for him, but I didn’t know that,” she continued. “And for me, it was more like, ‘Oh, wow.’ No one had said anything to me about it. I had been aware that I had gained weight, but I was still, you know, I was a size four. And so I remember thinking, ‘Wow, these people think I’ve gained enough weight [that] we have to write an entire episode about my weight gain.’”
Related: ‘Boy Meets World’ Cast: Where Are They Now?
Boy Meets World became a family sitcom phenomenon during its seven-season run on ABC from 1993 to 2000. Created by Michael Jacobs, the show followed the life and lessons of Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) from home with parents Alan (William Russ) and Amy (Betsy Randle) to school with neighbor and forever-teacher George Feeny.
Bure starred on Full House during its eight-season run from 1987 to 1995, later reprising her role in the Netflix spinoff series, Fuller House. The spinoff also featured original cast members Barber, 48, and Jodie Sweetin. John Stamos, Dave Coulier, Lori Loughlin, and the late Bob Saget also had recurring roles throughout the show’s five seasons from 2016 to 2020.
Fishel starred on Boy Meets World for all seven seasons from 1993 to 2000. She reprised her role in the Disney Channel spinoff, Girl Meets World, alongside Savage, 43, for three seasons from 2014 to 2017.
