The Potential Damage of Weight Centric Comments

As the New Year rolls in, social media becomes flooded with weight loss messaging from every direction. While often well-intended, these messages can be harmful, reinforcing negative body image and an unhealthy relationship with food.

As a dietitian, I always ask permission before discussing a client’s weight, shape, or size to ensure they feel comfortable with the conversation. In everyday interactions, I strongly urge you to avoid commenting on someone’s body altogether. Below are a few hypothetical (yet all-too-common) scenarios that illustrate why weight-centric comments can be damaging. These examples reflect real-life experiences I’ve encountered in my work and in casual conversations in public spaces.

The Impact of Weight-Focused Comments:

“Wow you look great! How did you lose the weight?”

-diagnosed with stomach cancer 2 months ago.

“I won’t tell anyone but are you pregnant?”

-had a miscarriage last week after 2 years of trying to conceive.

“Omg look they are so skinny they must be doing drugs.”

-in a Crohn's flare up, exhausted, and feeling like giving up.

“Hopefully it doesn’t take you too long to get your body back after pregnancy.”

-They never lost her body. That body just grew a child while navigating all that life throws at it. The human body is an instrument, not an ornament, and females are life giving!

“If you lose some weight, you’ll get faster.”

-food restriction leads to a season-ending injury and a decline in mental health.

"If you don't start working harder in gym class you're never going to lose weight"

-drops out of gym class and loses a supportive network of friends.

“Looks like Covid has been hard on you too." (wink wink looking at the mid-section)

-COVID allowed this person to engage in nutrition and therapy. They’ve been in eating disorder recovery for two months—at their largest weight in five years but the healthiest they’ve ever been. That comment triggered them to isolate, binge, and purge later that day.

The Power of Our Words

These examples are just a few of the countless ways weight-related comments can deeply impact someone’s mental and physical well-being. Our words carry weight, whether we realize it or not. Instead of focusing on appearance, try shifting conversations toward gratitude for what our bodies can do.

If a piece of clothing no longer fits or serves you, view it as a natural part of change- not a failure. Let it go and mark the moment with an act of self-care. Most importantly, remember that a person’s worth is never defined by their size of clothing or number on a scale.

What Can You Do Instead?

• Avoid making comments about someone’s body, weight, or size- positive or negative.

• If someone seeks advice about weight loss or body composition, encourage them to consult a qualified professional.

• Practice speaking kindly about your own body to set a positive example for others.

• If you believe that size is a reliable marker of health, confront your own weight bias.

I intentionally haven’t provided ways to discuss weight in this blog because my message is simple: there’s no need to comment on someone’s weight. Instead, let’s leave those conversations to trained professionals who can approach them with care, expertise, and a non-weight-biased perspective – when/if an individual is ready to discuss the topic of weight. 

By shifting the focus away from weight and toward overall well-being, we create a more supportive and inclusive environment, one where every body is respected and nourished.