Liv Schmidt defends ‘slim’ weight loss advice after TikTok ban

Well-being influencer Liv Schmidt stands by her controversial weight loss advice even after TikTok banned her from the app.

“For me and my aesthetic, I like being slim and there’s nothing wrong with that,” said Schmidt, 22. Wall Street Journal in a profile from Monday, September 16. “Weight is a touchy subject, but that’s what viewers want.”

She continued: “A lot of people want to know what people eat. I’m honest, it’s hard work.”

The model had nearly 700,000 followers on the social media app, where she posted clips of her fitness and diet hacks, including her “Skinny Girl Essentials” and “What I Eat in a Day” series. During a chat with WSJ, Schmidt revealed why she thinks her content has been “successful.”

“I don’t have any forbidden foods,” she explained. “I’m not dairy-free. I’m not vegan. I’m not gluten-free. I’m not a health food nut.”

However, many critics, including several licensed dietitians, claimed that Schmidt’s uploads promoted disordered eating habits. As a result, TikTok terminated Schmidt’s account for violating its community guidelines.

Schmidt, however, still stands by her stance, telling the website that she wants to “save America from obesity one person at a time, one education at a time.”

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

Schmidt previously struggled with body dysmorphia, which inspired her to create content on social media.

“If you look around and see that every single person around you is a thin blonde, then you definitely feel more pressure to fit that stereotype,” she told the publication, describing her “personal appearance” as “slim.”

While Schmidt’s TikTok profile is now inactive, she still posts health-related content on YouTube, Instagram, and her TikTok “burner” account.

“Habits are killers because they’re what helped me lose weight effectively,” she said in a TikTok video earlier this month. “Successfully, healthily (and) all of the above. My blood test results are amazing. I feel amazing.”

According to Schmidt, she lost the weight when she “shed” the fat and “went back to basics,” completely changing her diet and exercise program.

“One thing (about me) is that I don’t really think about my body,” she emphasized at the time. “It just depends on how I feel, and how I feel depends on how I look — and how I look depends on how I feel.”

Fans asked in the comments why her original account was deleted.

“To be honest, I have no idea about freedom of speech,” Schmidt replied.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call the hotline at +1 (866) 662-1235. Text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 for free help 24/7.