The phrase comes from reality. Portrait photography is usually done with a lens that has a longer focal length than whatever is considered normal for the camera it is taken with. This has the effect of making things appear somewhat flatter (so, for example, the nose does not stick out). But when the face appears flatter, it may also appear somewhat rounder than it is, so it may give the impression that one is heavier than one actually is.
Additionally, TV sitcoms and many other TV shows are shot with cameras that are a fair distance away from the actors, so, again, they have to use longer focus length in their lenses, which will exaggerate the effect. That is probably where the idea of 20 pounds comes from (movie cameras normally use standard focal length and sometimes even a wide angle length which has the opposite effect).
Last, but certainly not least, the paparazzi tend to use very long lenses (since they often shoot from a distance) which, again, exaggerate the effect of looking heavier.
My name is Colin Creevey
and I'm a photoholic.
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