Bebe Rexha’s weight gain has sparked endless headlines, public speculation, and unsolicited social media commentary, but this reveals far more about our culture’s obsession with bodies than about the Grammy-nominated artist herself.
As a weight-neutral, I’m less interested in why her body changed and more concerned with our collective response to it. When a talented musician’s appearance generates so much discussion, we need to examine what’s really happening beneath the surface.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how she has responded to body comments, how the conversation around her reflects broader cultural issues, and why this matters far beyond celebrity gossip.
Disclaimer: I am a Registered Dietitian, and as such, the information provided is accurate and evidence-based. However, I am not your dietitian, and nutrition therapy is highly individual. The information contained in this post is not intended to be a substitute for individualized nutrition advice or care. The information provided in this blog post is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you suspect you may have an eating disorder or any other medical condition, consult with a qualified healthcare provider for a comprehensive evaluation and tailored treatment plan that’s appropriate for you. Always seek the advice of your qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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Bebe Rexha’s Weight Gain Is Normal. The Way We Talk About It Isn’t.
The fact that Bebe Rexha’s weight gain has made headlines says a lot… but not about her.
From media headlines to unsolicited comments on social media, everyone has an opinion on her body. And while it might feel harmless to comment on a celebrity’s appearance, it doesn’t just affect the targeted individual but everyone else consuming that media too.
Weight fluctuates throughout life. It’s normal. Our bodies change in response to countless factors like stress, hormones, medications, lifestyle changes, and natural aging processes. Bebe Rexha’s weight gain is a normal physiological experience.
In fact, she has been refreshingly candid about her weight fluctuations, yet public discourse remains fixated on her body rather than her music, her accomplishments, or who she is as a person. When a woman’s body becomes breaking news, it’s a sign we’re still prioritizing appearance over humanity.
And it’s not about “concern” for her health. Public commentary masks weight stigma as “concern” for her well-being while reinforcing harmful messages about body size and worth. When we treat weight gain as inherently negative or worthy of public debate, we perpetuate fatphobia rather than meaningful conversation.
Why We Need to Stop Talking About Celebrities’ Weight
We need to take a hard look at why we keep making women’s bodies a topic of conversation and what that obsession is really costing us. Here’s why it needs to stop:
It’s Objectifying and Diminishes Her Achievements
When people fixate on Bebe Rexha’s weight, they ignore her talent, music, and accomplishments and focus instead on how she looks. That kind of objectification sends the message that no matter what someone achieves, their body will always be the main headline. It conditions people to believe that our value is based on how others see us and that how our body looks to others matters more than how it feels to us.
It Reinforces the Idea That Appearance Equals Worth
Public commentary on weight changes reinforces the idea that thin bodies are more valuable, desirable, or worthy of respect and that gaining weight is a failure. That’s not just untrue, it’s damaging. This belief fuels body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and shame.
Weight Does Not Equal Health
Despite what diet culture has taught us, you cannot determine someone’s health by looking at their body. Weight gain is not inherently unhealthy. Health is complex, personal, and far more than a number on a scale or the size of someone’s jeans.
It Perpetuates Harmful Beauty Standards
When weight gain is treated as something shameful or shocking, it reinforces unrealistic beauty ideals, especially the pressure to stay thin at all costs. These standards aren’t just unattainable for most people; they’re rooted in systems of oppression that benefit from keeping us focused on shrinking ourselves instead of living fully.
It Creates a Culture of Comparison
When we publicly dissect someone else’s body, it encourages others to turn that same scrutiny inward. It feeds a culture where we’re constantly measuring ourselves against others, questioning our own worth based on how we look. Body comparisons can lead to body dissatisfaction, poor self-esteem, disordered eating, anxiety, and depression (1).
It’s Invasive and Disrespectful
Even though celebrities are in the public eye, their bodies and personal health are private matters. Gaining weight in a culture that stigmatizes larger bodies is already difficult, and being under a microscope only amplifies that pressure.
While Rexha has responded to comments about her body with strength and grace, she once shared in a TikTok that, “I know that the criticism comes with the territory, so I am all good with that. I mean, sometimes it does get to me, I am human.”
No one, celebrity or not, should be judged or scrutinized for any changes in their body.
It Affects Everyone Listening, Including Children
When weight gain is treated like gossip, it sends a message to everyone watching, even kids, that body changes are something to be judged, picked apart, or feared. This is how body shame starts, by watching how others are treated. The ripple effect of this commentary can influence how entire generations feel about their bodies.
Why Did Bebe Rexha Gain Weight?
In interviews and on social media, Bebe Rexha has shared that her weight gain is related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a syndrome related to hormonal imbalance that affects many aspects of health.
Many people with PCOS experience higher insulin levels, which can affect how the body processes and stores energy. This metabolic difference can lead to weight changes for some individuals, but not everyone with PCOS experiences weight gain.
However, it’s important to remember that weight gain isn’t inherently bad or something that needs to be “fixed.” In the case of PCOS, supporting health involves looking at the whole picture:
- Blood sugar regulation
- Promoting cycle regularity
- Improving cholesterol levels
- Reducing inflammation
- Improving mental wellbeing
- Sustainable self-care
This approach includes gentle nutrition, movement, stress management, and getting enough rest. Just focusing on weight loss is reductive and can actually do more harm than good. It ignores the real drivers of health and increases the risk of weight cycling and disordered eating, both of which are already more common in people with PCOS.
Bebe Rexha being open about her diagnosis helps reduce shame and stigma around both PCOS and body changes. And it’s a reminder that health is complex, personal, and never just about size.
What Bebe Rexha Has Said About Her Weight Gain
Bebe Rexha has consistently responded to public commentary about her body with refreshing candor and strength. Rather than hiding from the conversation, she has directly addressed it while challenging the underlying assumptions.
In June 2023, when people were talking about her weight gain, Rexha took to Instagram with a powerful perspective: “I know I’ve gained weight. Humans go through fluctuations…. What I have learned, though, is numbers don’t define you; your heart does.“
Rexha acknowledges her body’s changes without shame while redirecting focus beyond appearance.
Later that year, during an interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show, she challenged the way we talk about people’s bodies altogether:“You don’t know what somebody’s going through, what they’re going through in their life, so it kind of is tough. But I feel like we’re in 2023… we should not be talking about people’s weight.”
More recently, in February 2025, when trolls commented on her weight during an Instagram Live, Rexha responded with even greater confidence: “Number one, I am unbothered. Number two, I’m very aware of everything. I know I gained weight. I know that I’ve been through a lot…But instead of letting that all break me down, it’s actually made me feel more powerful.“
She then revealed how she’s channeled these experiences: “I’ve been working on new music, and I’ve been putting it into my music. I promise you I feel stronger than ever.”
While Rexha still exists in a privileged body by society’s standards (she’s attractive, successful, and still fits within a range of body sizes that receive less stigma than many others experience), she still faces criticism for not meeting the even harsher unrealistic body standards placed on celebrities. However, rather than stay silent or conform, she uses her platform to challenge these harmful narratives, and honestly it’s so refreshing.
My Take on Bebe Rexha’s Weight Gain, Diet Culture, and Unrealistic Beauty Standards
As a weight-neutral dietitian, I see Bebe Rexha’s experience reflected in my client sessions every day. My clients aren’t facing intense public scrutiny, but they’ve internalized the same critical messages.
Diet culture thrives on that. It keeps people focused on shrinking instead of living. It trains us to see weight gain as failure and thinness as virtue. This isn’t accidental. The weight loss industry generates over $70 billion annually by selling the idea that our bodies need fixing. This system profits directly from your insecurity.
When we criticize celebrities’ bodies, we’re not just harming them; we’re reinforcing a system designed to keep all of us feeling inadequate and chasing impossible ideals.
What’s refreshing about Rexha’s response is her refusal to tie her appearance to her worth or apologize for taking up space. By channeling her experiences into creativity rather than restriction, she’s modeling a healthier, more sustainable way to relate to body changes.. one that diet culture doesn’t give us permission to imagine.
And yes, weight gain can bring up tough feelings, especially in a culture that moralizes body size. Rexha has been transparent about that, too, sharing that she doesn’t always love her body, doesn’t always feel confident, and sometimes wants to hide from the spotlight.
That kind of honesty is refreshing because it’s real. No one loves their body all the time, and that’s not even what a positive body image is about. A positive body image is about acknowledging that it can be hard sometimes and continuing to care for and respect your body anyway.
Her vulnerability shows that navigating these emotions is a shared human experience. It’s okay to have difficult feelings about your body or even to desire weight loss, and we can still challenge the systems that instilled those feelings in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Bebe Rexha’s weight gain highlights just how deeply diet culture runs and why it’s worth questioning the way we talk about bodies.
If you found this post insightful and want to explore more about intuitive eating, body image, and media influences, check out these related posts:
- Does Ariana Grande Have an Eating Disorder? A Dietitian’s Opinion
- A Dietitian’s Guide To Stop Binge Eating at Night
- Lizzo’s Weight Loss: A Dietitian’s Review
- Intuitive Eating Made Me Fat? The Truth About Intuitive Eating and Weight Gain
- Why Do I Feel Guilty After Eating? Surprising Reasons & Solutions
- Intuitive Eating Quiz: Are You an Intuitive Eater?
If you’re looking for personalized support, I offer one-on-one body image and Intuitive Eating counseling services to help you find food freedom and body confidence. My one-on-one services are tailored to your specific needs and concerns. We work to develop a plan together that will help you achieve your goals and fit into your life. Whether you’re looking to break free from the diet cycle, overcome emotional or binge eating, or start treating your body with respect and kindness, I’m here to help!
Kristin is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and Certified Personal Trainer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics with a concentration in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She has experience conducting systematic reviews and writing and evaluating scientific literature in peer-reviewed journals. She has a goal of making evidence-based nutrition information accessible and easy to understand.