Tech Desk 
Mar 24, 2025
In a bizarre turn of events, popular short video platform TikTok has removed a viral AI-powered “chubby filter” in the wake of concerns over eating disorders among users.
The chubby filter's removal from TikTok was reportedly prompted after users and health experts lashed out at the feature which is said to cause body shaming, The Express Tribune reported.
TikTok's chubby filter shows users' overweight appearance in photos. Surprisingly, the feature was developed by CapCut, a video editing app owned by ByteDance, TikTok's parent company.
The feature has been disseminated widely on TikTok, drawing ire from users, influencers, and scientists. Some users used the chubby feature for fun or taking a cheeky jibe at someone, posting before-and-after videos captioned “This is my motivation to go to the gym.”
On the other hand, other users pinpointed the dark, offensive side of it.
“This filter is a huge step backwards. It fuels toxic diet culture and reinforces harmful stereotypes about people in larger bodies,” said Dr Emma Beckett, a food and nutrition scientist.
Appearing mostly on TikTok's "For You" page, videos created using the chubby filter were often followed up by videos depicting enormous transformations.
