Former 'Body Positivity' Influencer Speaks Out on Weight Gain

Gabriella Lascano recounts her journey from promoting 'fat acceptance' to acknowledging the health risks of obesity.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Gabriella Lascano, a former 'body positivity influencer' with over 188,000 YouTube subscribers, has recounted her own weight gain and eventual departure from the 'fat acceptance' movement in an opinion video for The New York Times. Lascano, who at her heaviest weighed close to 400 pounds, said she started to question whether 'loving yourself at any size' had become an 'excuse to ignore' how much weight she was gaining.

Why it matters

Lascano's story highlights the growing backlash against the 'body positivity' movement, which some critics argue has promoted unhealthy attitudes towards obesity. The rise of weight loss drugs like GLP-1s has also challenged the notion that being overweight is 'beautiful' or 'healthy' for everyone.

The details

Lascano, who is 5 feet tall, said she gained significant weight over time despite her popular 'body positive' videos featuring her in skimpy clothing. She credits the death of an obese friend, another 'fat influencer,' as one of the factors that prompted her to re-evaluate her approach. Lascano now acknowledges that 'loving yourself at any size' became an 'excuse' to ignore the health risks of her own obesity.

  • Lascano posted the opinion video for The New York Times on February 16, 2026.

The players

Gabriella Lascano

A former 'body positivity influencer' on YouTube with over 188,000 subscribers, who has recounted her own weight gain and departure from the 'fat acceptance' movement.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing a community that welcomes you with open arms, and tells you there's no pressure to look this way, to be this certain weight, I mean, does that not sound like paradise?”

— Gabriella Lascano (The New York Times)

“I'm only five feet tall, and at my heaviest, I was close to 400 pounds. I started to wonder if loving myself at any size had become an excuse to ignore how big I was getting.”

— Gabriella Lascano (The New York Times)

What’s next

Lascano has not indicated any specific next steps, but her story has sparked renewed debate around the merits and potential harms of the 'body positivity' movement.

The takeaway

Lascano's personal journey highlights the complex issues surrounding obesity, body image, and the need for a balanced, nuanced approach that promotes both self-acceptance and healthy lifestyle changes. Her story challenges the notion that 'loving yourself at any size' is always the best path forward.