Has Jessica Simpson Gained Too Much Baby Weight?

Jessica Simpson has been open about her weight gain during pregnancy, but some say she's gained too much weight, while others are coming to her defense. INSIDE EDITION has the scoop.

Is Jessica Simpson putting on too much weight?

That's the question swirling following a string of recent public appearances by the pregnant star. 

"Are you sure you're not having twins?" asked Jimmy Kimmel.

"I know, everybody's saying that to me," said Simpson.

Now the debate is raging, and even Sarah Palin is "weighing" in.

"It is none of anybody else's business," said Palin.

"Most women who are pregnant are not supposed to gain really more than 25 pounds, and she looks like she gained a lot more than that," said Joy Behar.

The controversy began after the website Hollywoodlife.com said Simpson's put on 50 pounds, and quoted a doctor as saying the weight gain "can actually put her baby at risk."

"When a mother-to-be puts on a significant amount of weight, it can make the delivery more complicated, obstetricians say. You're at risk of having a baby that's 10 pounds or larger, and those babies can suffer from respiratory problems, or may have trouble maintaining their sugar levels," said editor-in-chief, Bonnie Fuller.

Palin came to Simpson's defense when she co-hosted the Today show Tuesday.

"How would you have felt if someone criticized you for gaining too much weight?" asked Matt Lauer.

"I would have wanted to punch them in the neck!" said Palin.

But NBC's Dr. Nancy Schneiderman was blunt.

"She's pretty fat," said Schneiderman.

On The View, Barbara Walters referred to a recent photo of Simpson on the cover of Elle magazine.

"If you're going to put yourself on the cover of national magazines—pregnant—then you're gonna take some of the flack," said Walters.

Whoopi Goldberg took Simpson's side.

"You do what you have to do, you have a great time, you have a safe baby," said Goldberg. 

Online, Simpson's weight is a hot-button topic.

One critic writes, "not to be mean, but she's fat."

Another says, "she has gained way more than 50 pounds."

But others are a lot kinder, saying, "I think she looks fine."

Another added, "I couldn't name one of my friends that put on less than 40 pounds during pregnancy."

Simpson was at her shapeliest in the 2005 movie, The Dukes of Hazzard.

She admits her diet during pregnancy includes buttered Pop Tarts, Cap'n Crunch cereal, and Kraft mac 'n' cheese.

She's good natured about her weight gain.

"There might be an adult in there," joked Kimmel.

"There might be," said Simpson.