Living within a couple of counties of Amy (in the middle) was the closest I ever came to having a GND actually ND. I agree that the normalization of 'plumpness' may be a factor in people's perception. It's not that the shape is unrealistic, just not close to average or what people are used to seeing in their daily lives. It lends a certain amusing irony to the GND moniker. The figures are striking though. They really evoke an almost classical beauty and bring to mind images like Leni Riefenstahl's nude athletes. 

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken