Hot Mom or Bully?

A fitness blogger described by some as a “hot mom” and by others as a “fat-shaming bully” has garnered considerable attention this week by complaining loudly when she was banned from Facebook. The spark for this action came when she “decided to vent on the current state of our obesity crisis in America.”

She was distressed by reading about plus-sized people being proud of their bodies. She said:

The popular and unrelenting support received to those who are borderline obese (not just 30-40 lbs overweight) frustrates me as a fitness advocate who intimately understands how poor health negatively effects a family, a community and a nation. While I think it’s important to love and accept your body, I was a little peeved because I think that we’re normalizing obesity in our society.

This is not her first grab for attention. About a month ago, she posted a picture of herself in a sports bra and briefs with her three sons aged 8 months to three years. Thinking she would inspire young mothers everywhere, her headline asked, “What’s your excuse?”

That post generated some support and considerable anger. It led some to label her a “fat-shaming bully.” Perhaps because of this history, Facebook was quick to take down her most recent rant about people with obesity and temporarily suspend her account. Facebook told the blogger:

While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition.

Freedom of speech is important. Shaming people is unhelpful and hateful. Hateful speech should be marginalized. Facebook’s action is encouraging.

Click here to read more in USA Today, and here to read more in the Daily Mail.

Little Bullies, photograph © ucumari / flickr

Subscribe by email to follow the accumulating evidence and observations that shape our view of health, obesity, and policy.