Who Is Liv Schmidt? ‘Skinny Influencer’ Banned from TikTok

TikTok star Liv Schmidt has been banned from the short-video sharing app for sharing controversial weight loss tips.

Liv Schmidt is a 22-year-old social media influencer who was banned from TikTok for sharing a series of videos allegedly promoting eating disorders.

Her video app had nearly 700,000 followers, where she posted clips of her fitness and diet hacks, including the controversial series “Skinny Girl Essentials” and “What I Eat in a Day.”

Liv Schmidt Controversy Explained

While she’s not a certified dietitian or health expert, her content focuses heavily on body image. In numerous videos, she promotes nutritional supplements, ankle weights, and protein powders, as well as providing tips and advice on how to avoid weight gain.

Although the influencer had a large following on TikTok, she often faced criticism from experts and nutritionists for her videos, who described her content as reflecting an “unhealthy attachment to thinness.”

Critics claimed that Liv was glorifying eating disorders by emphasizing the importance of being thin, leading to takedown notices for the 22-year-old corporate employee.

As a result, TikTok took action by shutting down her account, citing community guidelines violations related to her posts about “eating disorders.”

Eating disorders can lead to serious health problems, including malnutrition, heart problems, and psychological distress. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, these behaviors can lead to long-term physical and mental complications, which may have played a role in TikTok’s decision to ban her account.

Liv Schmidt Defends Her Weight Loss Advice

Liv stands by her controversial weight loss advice even after being banned from the app. “For me and my personal aesthetic, I like being thin, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” she told the Wall Street Journal in a profile published on September 16, 2024.

As for why she thinks her content was “successful,” she explained: “I don’t have any no-no’s. I’m not dairy-free. I’m not vegan. I’m not gluten-free. I’m not a health food nut.”

Despite many critics claiming that Liv’s videos promote eating disorders, she has continued to defend her content and told the outlet that her goal is to “save America from obesity, one person at a time.”

“I’m trying to build something authentic,” the 22-year-old said, adding that she felt “misunderstood” and “upset” by TikTok’s decision. “We all have the ability to follow or block any content we want.”

Liv revealed that she previously struggled with body dysmorphia, which inspired her to post on social media. She went on to tell the publication: “If you look around and every single person around you is blonde and skinny, you definitely feel more pressure to fit that stereotype.”

While her TikTok profile is no longer active, she continues to share wellness-themed content on YouTube and Instagram, amassing thousands of likes and views.