Lizzo Doesn’t Owe Anyone an Explanation on Her Weight

Not your body? Not your business. On Jan. 25, Lizzo revealed in an Instagram post that she hit her weight loss goal, a number she hadn’t seen on the scale since 2014. Immediately, her comments section was flooded with accusations about being on Ozempic, remarks about how losing weight is easy when you’re rich, and how hypocritical it is for someone who’s body positive to lose weight.

A month later, Lizzo’s weight loss is still sparking debate. A photo she posted to Instagram on Feb. 20 has garnered similar comments. This isn’t the first time Lizzo has had to field comments about her appearance, either. In 2023, she took to TikTok to slam those who comment on other people’s bodies. That same year, she clapped back at an X user when they posted: “How is Lizzo still THIS fat when she’s constantly moving this much on stage?! I wonder what she must be eating.”

Let’s make one thing clear: It’s never, ever OK to comment on someone else’s body. Even if you have the best intentions — for instance, “You look so good, have you lost weight?” — you rarely know what a person is going through. While Lizzo’s weight loss seemed intentional, the person you chat with in your weekly Pilates class might have lost weight due to grieving a loved one or experiencing a mental health concern.

Lizzo has recently embraced body neutrality, which is “adopting an accepting, non-judgemental approach to one’s body, de-emphasising the importance of appearance,” according to a definition used by researchers in a 2024 study in Body Image.

In 2024, Lizzo told the New York Times: “The idea of body positivity, it’s moved away from the antiquated mainstream conception. It’s evolved into body neutrality.” And in 2020, she echoed a similar sentiment to Vogue: “I would like to be body-normative. I want to normalize my body.”

Making comments about someone’s appearance can lead to serious consequences. In fact, comments have been linked to negative body image, which can increase someone’s risk of depression and eating disorders, according to a 2021 review in Health Psychology Open. What’s more, a 2019 study in Stress and Health found that feeling judged by others in terms of appearance has been linked to spikes in cortisol (the stress hormone) and higher self-reported stress.

If there’s one lesson we can take with us through the rest of the year — and beyond — let it be this: Other people’s appearances are not your concern. Whether someone has lost weight, gained weight, or looks the same as they always have, there will never be a good reason to make a comment about it.