There are a lot of social rules in place about when, where, and how you can comment on somebody’s weight. A general rule of thumb is that it’s impolite to point out if someone has gained weight, but it’s usually acceptable to compliment someone on losing it. Even positively mentioning weight loss can be a sticky situation. So many people who have lost a ton of weight have reported that they get treated so much better post-weight loss, it makes them incredibly sad for their past self who was just as worthy of respect as their thinner self. 

Whether you think we should never comment on others’ weight or praise anybody who loses it, you will be alarmed by the behavior of the woman in this story. When her coworker, who recently lost 70 pounds, gets complimented by her sister-in-law about her progress, she says outright that she’s gained a couple of pounds.