Weight Game

HEAVY DUTY Gracin's sudden weight gain may be medical

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Maybe we've all been too hard on Joshua Gracin, the countrified Marine who's a favorite to get the boot on next Wednesday's ''American Idol.'' Though no one's arguing with Simon Cowell's assessment that Gracin's ''Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye'' was downright ''dreary,'' EW.com has learned that his sluggish performance may have less to do with his talent and more to do with a medical condition. ''While he's been here, he's actually had a thyroid problem,'' ''Idol'' stylist Miles Siggins tells EW.com. ''He's been putting on weight because of that, and it's been a shock to him to be going up in size.'' A Fox spokesperson declined to comment.

Though we don't know Gracin's official diagnosis, the singer's weight gain (Cowell's catty comments about his pudge inspired Gracin to do push-ups on stage) suggests he may suffer from hypothyroidism. According to the American Thyroid Association, symptoms of the condition also include sluggishness, low energy, forgetfulness, and depression. Most often hypothyroidism is caused by a patient's immune system attacking the thyroid, but it can also be the result of inflammation brought on by a viral infection or a problem with the pituitary gland.

Though the disease has no cure (viral hypothyroidism is the exception), it can be treated, usually with oral doses of synthetic hormones. Once under control, all symptoms of the disease should disappear.

Gracin's thyroid problems may be dragging down his ''Idol'' performances, but they shouldn't affect his ability to go back to his tough-guy day job when the time comes. ''Hypothetically, if I developed a thyroid problem and could continue to function as a Marine, that's fine,'' says Marine Corps spokesperson Shawn Turner. Once he gets his vim and vigor back, Gracin, the king of the one-armed push-ups, should have no problem meeting the Marine's minimum standard of physical fitness: a 3-mile run in under 28 minutes, three pull-ups, and 60 crunches.

Where Gracin could get into trouble is at the weigh-in. Carrying even 10 extra pounds sends a Marine into remedial fitness training. ''But if it's determined that medical conditions are causing the person to be overweight, they will be dealt with by the medical community,'' says Turner. Ailing Marines are put on limited duty for six months to seek medical attention. After that term, if they still can't meet the minimum requirements, they may be processed for a medical discharge.

But for now Josh has other things to worry about, such as hiding his extra pounds from the cameras. ''I took him to Diesel one day and he tried on a black shirt that was $90,'' says Siggins. ''He said, ‘The shirts at Express are only $25!' but [when he tried it on] he said, ‘Wow, it makes me look so thin!''' C'mon Josh, we all know black is slimming. Why else would Simon wear so much of it?