Valerie Bertinelli Viral Video About Body Shaming: A Personal Trainer Shares What She Thinks We Need to Promote Over Being Thin by Dawn Taylor

Valerie Bertinelli recently posted a video on Instagram admonishing someone who commented on one of her recent Instagram posts. The person had criticized Bertinelli’s weight gain.

Clearly upset, at times crying, she made it clear that she was aware of her inability to maintain any weight-loss progress, but also made it clear it wasn’t cool to make others feel bad. I agree with that wholeheartedly and wish people would think before posting their comments about someone’s physical appearance.

Bertinelli is a product of a society and industry that values thin people. She has been open in the past about her struggles with weight, but also was a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, which in my opinion promotes diet culture. The quick-fix culture that helps you lose weight quickly, but doesn’t teach you to stay healthy on your own, without expensive meal plans and fees.

The actor, cook and mom, however, is human like the rest of us, and likely turned to Jenny Craig not only for income, but with the hope to lose weight.

On her Instagram page, Bertinelli wrote: "Aren’t we tired of body shaming women yet?! SMH. I was going to delete my stories because it’s a little embarrassing and scary to be so vulnerable. But then I realized it was hitting a ‘good’ nerve with so many of you who were so sweet to DM and share your same vulnerability and struggles. We all could use a little more kindness and patience and grace, because we just never know what someone else is going through. So here it is. Not deleting. Owning it."

Bertinelli is a person who has fallen into the cycle of dieting and poor body image, in my opinion. With constant and often immediate negative feedback on social media, these things are exacerbated.

We need to start emphasizing healthy bodies over skinny bodies. We need to promote physical fitness over quick-fix diets. Most of all though, we need to promote loving our bodies just the way they are. 

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