Boyfriend's Hurtful Comments On Girlfriend's Slight Weight Gain Spark Outrage

A little humor here and there is healthy for relationships; it interjects laughter into otherwise ordinary moments. But for our narrator (Original Poster), the line between humor and subtle jabs blurred when her boyfriend's “fat jokes” began to feel more like pointed critiques.

It had been their usual pattern; she'd accept these jests and even feign offense. Her boyfriend would affectionately offer reassuring words, making it clear he was only joking.

But a few weeks ago, the tone shifted. He practically demanded that she put more effort into her appearance—she was getting fat. 

It stung, but despite the poor wording, OP tried to decipher a genuine concern for her well-being beneath the surface. She decided to take up jogging and start eating healthier.

Fast forward to today, and their shared moments on the couch took a distressing turn. OP noticed how his ‘playful’ pinches and jests morphed into a laser-focused examination of the extra fat around her belly and chin area.

The jig was up, and OP called him out. He finally admitted she was more attractive when she was thinner, even pointedly referring to an old college photo where OP was thin but battling body dysmorphia—he was aware of this.

This hit a nerve, and OP found herself tumbling into the vortex of insecurities fueled by her boyfriend. From gripes about her makeup to critiques of her weight, he didn’t even cut her some slack when she was stress eating to cope with her mother’s loss.

Sure, OP gained a little weight, but it wasn’t a seismic shift. How does OP navigate this emotional minefield?