On Friday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a joint event in Martinsburg to announce new health initiatives, including a ban on certain food dyes. Morrisey also revealed that his state had submitted a waiver to prevent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from being used to purchase soda, a move that Kennedy has supported.
However, the event took an unexpected turn when Kennedy made remarks about Morrisey’s weight, igniting a broader conversation about body image and fat shaming.
Kennedy’s Comments on Morrisey’s Weight
During the event, Kennedy did not hold back when addressing the governor’s health.
“The first time I saw him, I said, ‘You look like you ate Governor Morrisey,’” Kennedy joked, drawing laughter from the audience. He then promised to put Morrisey on a “really rigorous regimen” and a carnivore diet.
He took it a step further by asking the crowd, “Raise your hand if you want Gov. Morrisey to do a public weigh-in once a month,” a suggestion met with applause. Kennedy then pledged to return to West Virginia for a “celebration and a public weigh-in” once Morrisey lost 30 pounds.
Reactions to Kennedy’s Remarks
Kennedy’s comments sparked mixed reactions online and in media coverage. Some felt his remarks were inappropriate, arguing that they amounted to public fat shaming. Others defended his statements as lighthearted and aligned with Morrisey’s own health goals.
Morrisey himself took the comments in stride, later jokingly inviting the Health and Human Services Secretary to be his personal trainer. He also reaffirmed his commitment to personal health and weight loss in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
However, not everyone found Kennedy’s remarks harmless. Some social media users criticized the comments as “bullying” rather than meaningful health advocacy.
One critic wrote:
“This isn’t health policy; it’s frat house bullying in a lab coat. Public weigh-ins don’t fix structural health issues like poverty, food deserts, or underfunded healthcare. They just distract from real policy.”
Meanwhile, a supporter of RFK Jr. acknowledged concerns but still expressed admiration for his broader health efforts:
“I like RFK and his vision for a healthier country, but fat shaming isn’t the way to go. Do better, RFK.”
Others defended Kennedy, arguing that his comments were part of an ongoing conversation initiated by Morrisey himself.
“This wasn’t fat shaming,” one person argued. “The governor had already talked about the importance of getting healthier and challenged his state to walk a mile a day. He even joked about needing a personal trainer. The weigh-in idea was just a playful extension of that.”
The Harmful Impact of Weight Comments
While Morrisey seemed unbothered, experts warn that public comments about someone’s body can have unintended negative consequences.
Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, a regional medical director at the Eating Recovery Center, explained that such remarks “don’t just impact the individual being discussed, but every single person who struggles with body image.”
Clinical psychologist Alexis Conason, author of The Diet-Free Revolution, echoed this sentiment, saying that no one—regardless of their size—is immune to the effects of body image struggles.
“Your body is no one else’s business, and if someone comments on your body, it says more about them than it does about you,” Conason stated.
Wassenaar also warned that remarks like Kennedy’s reinforce the notion that appearance is the most important thing about a person.
“It just reinforces this superficial, body-focused idea that we know is painful and harmful,” she said. “We are so much more than the vessel that carries us.”
A Larger Conversation About Health and Public Policy
Kennedy and Morrisey’s event was meant to focus on health initiatives, but the discussion about weight comments and body image has become a key takeaway. While promoting health and wellness is important, experts caution that shaming people into losing weight is not an effective or compassionate approach.
Instead of focusing on public weigh-ins, advocates suggest addressing deeper issues that impact health, such as access to nutritious food, affordable healthcare, and mental health support.
As debates over health policy continue, one thing is clear—how we talk about health and body image matters.
