A woman has claimed her best friend demanded she gain 120 pounds (54 kilograms) before her wedding so the bride would appear slimmer by comparison.

The bridesmaid, who posts on TikTok as @Jackie.o436, said her friend, identified as Nikki, invited her to be a bridesmaid at a December wedding before setting conditions about her appearance.

According to the account, the bride wanted her friend to gain 120 pounds before the wedding to ensure she was the thinnest woman there. The bridesmaid also claimed she was told to have facials twice a week to address acne, pay for her own dress and bend down during a stage appearance so the bride would look taller.

Bride Allegedly Made Weight Gain a Condition of Being a Bridesmaid

The woman said the requests were made during dinner. When she questioned the demand to gain weight, she reportedly suggested that the bride could instead lose weight.

The TikTok user claimed her friend became upset, accused her of trying to sabotage the wedding and threw a plate of spaghetti at her. She also alleged that the bride insulted her before she left.

The account further claimed the bride had uninvited her own sister after she refused to comply. The bridesmaid said she paid the dinner bill before leaving and vowed not to attend another wedding.

The New York Post and other outlets reported the story, but the claims have not been independently verified. The Daily Dot also noted that it could not independently confirm the events described in the TikTok video.

Weight-Based Pressure Can Affect Body Image

The alleged demand reflects a wider issue of weight stigma: pressure or discrimination directed at people because of their body size.

A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Clinical Nutrition examined 30 studies and found associations between weight-related self-stigma and depression and anxiety, as well as between perceived weight stigma and depression.

The findings show an association, not proof that one comment or incident causes a mental health condition. However, repeated criticism or pressure around weight can contribute to body dissatisfaction and negative feelings about appearance.

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Weight Stigma Is Also Linked to Disordered Eating

A 2024 systematic review published in Body Image assessed 242 studies on weight stigma and disordered eating. Researchers found that experienced, anticipated and internalised weight stigma were each associated with disordered-eating outcomes, including body dissatisfaction, binge eating and unhealthy weight-control behaviours.

This does not mean everyone exposed to weight-related comments will develop disordered eating. It does show why appearance-based pressure should not be dismissed as harmless teasing.

Weight is influenced by biological, psychological, social and environmental factors. Pressuring someone to make a drastic change for another person's approval is not a substitute for medically guided weight management.

Personal Boundaries Matter in Relationships

Being part of a wedding party does not mean surrendering control over one's body or agreeing to potentially harmful changes. Health professionals encourage weight-related conversations without shame, coercion or assumptions about someone's health based on appearance.

Anyone experiencing distress around food, weight or body image can seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.

The TikTok account has prompted discussion about friendship and wedding expectations. The broader health message is that a person's body should not be treated as an accessory to someone else's special day.

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