Creator Leaves Body Positivity: 'Health Is Real'

Gabriella Lascano, a prominent content creator with over 600,000 followers, has stepped away from identifying as a body positivity influencer. She began sharing content online in 2010, finding an audience among plus-size women who felt empowered by her posts and collaborations with major brands. Lascano initially saw the movement as a welcoming space without pressure regarding weight or appearance.

However, over the last three years, Lascano has expressed growing concerns. She admitted feeling guilt, believing the body positivity movement had lost sight of 'real health.' This sentiment intensified after the deaths of two influencers, Jamie Lopez and Brittany Sauer, in late 2022, reportedly from health complications. These events, coupled with her own physical limitations at 400 pounds, led Lascano to question if self-love had become an excuse to ignore significant health risks.

In a viral TikTok, Lascano asserted, 'Health is real. Organs failing is real.' She argued that acknowledging obesity's health risks, such as heart disease and diabetes, is not fatphobic. While she continues to create beauty and lifestyle content, Lascano now believes in a form of body positivity that allows for self-love while also embracing the desire and freedom to pursue weight loss and better health.