It’s no secret that being active can work wonders for our well-being. But instead of encouraging others to keep their bodies moving, some people feel the need to bring their spirits down.
One of such people recently went viral on TikTok for suggesting that people who weigh 200 pounds shouldn’t be in a pilates class. A different TikToker, known to her online audience as ‘Nosy Bystanders,’ took to the platform to condemn such comments, and most netizens seemed to be on the same page as her. Scroll down to find more information and the video criticizing the sizeist remarks below.
Sizeist comments can really discourage people from taking part in certain activities
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
This woman condemned a TikToker for saying that people who weigh 200 pounds shouldn’t do pilates
Image credits: nosybystanders
Image credits: nosybystanders
Image credits: nosybystanders
Image credits: nosybystanders
The ‘Nosy Bystanders’ video was viewed nearly 3M times
@nosybystanders #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen someone got on this #internet and said people of a certain weight shouldn’t attend #pilates classes. Essentially saying it slows down the rest of the class and that they should stick with the #gym. #pilatespolice #whosinvited #pilatescore ♬ original sound – 💫NOSY💫
Pilates seems to have been gaining popularity in recent years
Those who have taken part in at least one pilates class know that it’s not “just an aesthetic.” (It’s not a walk in the park, either, so I applaud anyone who can go through an entire class without thinking of quitting once. I know I can’t.) It’s a system of exercise that can, as one study puts it, be both “gentle strength training for rehabilitation or a strenuous workout vigorous enough to challenge skilled athletes.” The exercises reportedly help increase muscle strength and endurance, enhance flexibility, and improve posture and balance.
Over the recent years, the activity seems to have been gaining traction. A 2025 survey of pilates instructors from around the world found that close to 80% of pilates studios are growing and nearly 70% of them are selling out classes. The demand is emphasized even more by the fact that close to 40% of studio owners say they need more instructors.
According to Statista, in 2024, close to 13 million people in the US alone took part in pilates classes, marking the highest annual total since 2010. Other data shared by Statista revealed that it’s an activity beloved by representatives of different age groups, which makes it safe to assume that it’s also enjoyed by people with different body types.
Looking at the comments under the video uploaded by ‘Nosy Bystanders,’ it’s clear that pilates is a form of exercise (or torture) that people of all shapes, sizes, and ages engage in. So it’s no surprise that many of them were appalled by the remarks suggesting that only people of a certain weight should be allowed to exercise with fellow pilates fans.
No one should feel bad about exercising, but thanks to weight stigma, many people do
The idea that only individuals of a certain weight can engage in certain activities unfortunately feeds into the already widespread weight stigma. It’s no secret that some people might not feel too comfortable exercising in public, and comments like the ones the TikToker made only makes the situation worse.
Research on social physique anxiety suggests that people with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) often tend to exercise less frequently than those with a lower BMI, and one of the likely reasons why there is weight stigma in the first place. Individuals who have a higher BMI reportedly often experience such stigma and weight-based prejudice in different forms, such as bullying or discrimination, just to name a couple. Unsurprisingly, such experiences have been shown to lead to reduced exercise levels and increased motivation to avoid exercising, as well as an array of other negative mental and physical health outcomes.
“Feeling like an outsider, feeling vulnerable, or feeling uncomfortable are all feelings that most people would prefer to avoid experiencing. Our research suggests that for someone who has a higher body weight, going to the gym can be a vulnerable, uncomfortable experience in which they worry that people will judge them as unworthy of being in the gym,” the research read in part. A study carried out in the UK found that close to a third of plus-size gym goers report feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome at their local gym.
No one should feel like they’re “unworthy” of being in the gym or taking part in any other kind of exercise. They should be applauded for finding the motivation to take care of their bodies and minds, which can be hard to do no matter the body type. That’s likely why many people joined the content creator ‘Nosy Bystanders’ in condemning the TikToker’s sizeist comments, and went straight into the comments section to share their thoughts.
People in the comments shared their two cents on the matter
