A personal trainer has used his business page on Facebook to publicly shame a woman for her size.
Charles R Poliquin who refers to himself as the “strength sensei” shared an image of an anonymous woman with a caption that compared her body to that of a melting marshmellow.
The post was shared with all 217,000 users who have liked his page.
The caption accompanying the image read:
“Must be really hot in this shopping centre. She started to melt! Or many (sic) it is epigenetics, she is expressing the marshmallow gene because of her consumption of high fructose corn syrup.”
The post was soon deleted but not before it was picked up by another health and fitness page who took a screenshot of the post and shared it with their followers.
JPS Health and Fitness called the post “bullying” and said that such acts of public humiliation do little to help the problem of obesity.
“Bullying and making fun of those who are overweight and obese is not only morally incorrect, but is of no benefit to the problem and epidemic we face,” they said.
“For someone who claims to be a ‘leader’ in the fitness industry, it is disgusting to see him, let alone anyone, put down and make a mockery of someone who is out of shape.”
The shared image is currently gaining traction as users on Facebook comment on their disappointment with the trainer.
"Rethink your career. This level of unprofessionalism isn't just distasteful it should clue you in to who you authentically are. It ain't good," one user said.
Another user thanked the health and fitness page for reminding their community that bullying others over their physicality is a shallow judgment.
"Some people can't help their weight it's in the genes it's def wrong to mock or bully ANYONE for being different ty for posting this reminder," they said.
The post has even caused ire from members of the fitness community on Twitter who have tweeted their disappointment to Poliquin directly.
News.com.au reported that Poliquin had written an apology on the offending post before it was taken down, but he has said nothing since.
The apology reportedly said he was simply "passionate".
“I am passionate about reversing obesity. And like all passionate people, I go to extremes," he said.
“I hope that we all work together to conquer this problem and help people to live to their highest potential.”
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Top Comments
All my life I have been a beautiful effortless petite. Size 6. I was until I had my baby. What a shock it was to look at life from the other side. No one fat shamed me. But I felt unhappy and realised you can't just snap out of it. Its impossible to just stop eating rubbish and exercise although its the obvious logical solution. It took an incredible amount of will power and focus to convince myself that I don't absolutely need that second bowl of pasta. Finally found me again and finally feel fit and healthy. But anyone who says fat women should just eat less and move more are idiots. It takes more than that. It takes every ounce of determination focus self belief and more importantly ability to visualise yourself smaller. Thats what I struggled with the most. I couldn't even imagine myself a size 6 even though I have been that size all my life. So I know that its not greed ir laziness that keeps fat people fat. Its so hard to imagine anything else. People who keep trying again and again despite failing so many times have my utmost respect.
I am sick of these trainers justifying their hate by saying they are passionate about obesity. No they are not. They are passionate about getting fame and fortune for being lucky enough to have the genetics, food availability and support to be who they are. No fat-shaming has ever changed obesity levels --------ever!!!! Michelle Bridges was like this at her high school where she told the principal that she wanted to do something to fix the unfit/fat kids. if you are blessed with a body that has responded well to the food you eat --- good on you. Not everyone is like that otherwise we would all be thin. Stick this bloke in a remote community where all they have to eat is flour, bread and coke and tell me he won't get fat. The same goes for this woman, she is a product of her environment and resources. Stop judging and start helping.
Awesome comment.