Weight gain TikTok trend promotes pandemic body positivity

If anyone claimed that they hadn't gained a single pound over the course of 2020, while stuck in Covid lockdown, they're probably lying. As this weight gain TikTok trend proves, everyone did.

Covid-19 lockdowns have caused a lot of weight gain over the last twelve months.
Covid-19 lockdowns have caused a lot of weight gain over the last twelve months.  © Collage: Screenshots/TikTok/@meazyc333

2020 was a difficult year, a brutal contrast between the chaotic and stressful lives of doctors and essential workers, and those of us lucky enough to have to stay home in complete social isolation.

As the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked its havoc upon the world, many people were forced to stay home and remain almost entirely stationary. The gyms were closed, and many couldn't even go outside - so weight gain was inevitable.

Now, though, there's a new body positive TikTok trend that's here to stay. The weight gain TikTok trend sees influencers and users showing off their bodies pre- and post-pandemic.

Both men and women show off their weight gain

In the viral weight gain TikTok videos, users post before-and-after comparison pictures of their bodies. Instead of impressive weight loss and fitness gains, as is the tradition, the pics celebrate love handles and beer bellies!

An example of this is from TikTok user @meazyc333. At the beginning of her short video, a text-to-speech voice says: "Show a picture of yourself from January and December."

In the first selfie, which is labeled January, the woman looks slim and toned. But in the picture from December, she has a good few extra inches around the waist.

The thousands of replies to her post were mostly appreciative, many calling her "courageous," and one telling her "And that's okay" in all caps.

Viral weight gain TikTok trend is not just for the girls

Alek Nieberlein is wearing the same outfit in January and December 2020, but it fits differently.
Alek Nieberlein is wearing the same outfit in January and December 2020, but it fits differently.  © Collage: Screenshots/TikTok/@niebsy

Women aren't the only ones showing off the January 2020 and December 2020 bods, either. TikTok-user Alek Nieberlein posted a weight gain TikTok clip of himself flexing his muscles while wearing black overalls a year ago.

Twelve months later, he's sporting a beer belly, which he can no longer pull the jumpsuit over. Still, he looks pretty darn happy, and that's what's most important.

Some users even appreciated his "fuller" appearance more. One wrote, "I actually think it's better the way he is today." And they weren't the only one that thought so.

Influencer Chloe got death threats after posting a TikTok clip of her weight gain.
Influencer Chloe got death threats after posting a TikTok clip of her weight gain.  © Collage: Screenshots/TikTok/@chloe_xandria

The trend gained popularity when influencer chloe_xandria showed her almost 300,000 followers how her body had changed throughout 2020. Unlike Alek Nieberlein and @meazyc333, though, she wasn't just hailed for her bravery and honesty.

In a more recent video, Chloe shared that she had received death threats and terrible comments about her family after she posted the video. As a result, she decided to turn off the comments section.

Fortunately, the majority of TikTok users were supportive. Many condemned the criticism and thought that the death threats were absurd. "Death threats for what? I was helped by your video," one user wrote.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshots/TikTok/@chloe_xandria/@meazyc333

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