AITA For Telling My Parents to Leave Over Eating Habit Jabs?

In a cramped apartment, old wounds flare as a 20-year-old faces their mother’s relentless jabs about their weight. Having battled an eating disorder since childhood, the young adult snaps, telling their parents to leave if they can’t stop. The fallout sends the parents to the sister’s house, who brands the OP an asshole for their outburst.

Picture the tension: a home meant as a haven turned battleground over past traumas. This Reddit AITA post dives into family ties strained by control and guilt, leaving readers to weigh in: was the snap justified, or did it cross a line?

‘AITA For Telling My Parents to Leave Over Eating Habit Jabs?

Let’s get to the actual story; and introduce the characters. Salvi is my boyfriend, mom is my mother, dad is my father, Marie is my sister, I’m 20, as is Salvi. So, as a child, my mother was hyper-conscious about my weight. It translates into me being on diets from the age of seven.

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As an early teenager, I struggled with an eating disorder, and the road to recovery has been a messy one. At the age of 18, I decided to move out with my boyfriend, and we lived in our own apartment. Note: my father wasn’t really okay with the diets, but he never opposes my mother, which has causes tensions.

Okay, so my parents house is being sold, so they asked if they can stay at mine until they find a new place, and I agreed. That was two months ago. Like three days in, my mother started commenting about how I had gained weight, and that I should eat less, and it’s been making me feel worse, and worse, and I’m starting to enter old habits.

I’ve tried to tell my mother that I am an adult, I can know what to eat, to no avail. Last night, after a certain remark, I snapped, and told my mother that she could either stop f**king remarking, or she could leave (and by extension my dad), and it escalated into a huge argument, and they both left to my sister’s.

My sister called me up to tell me that I was an a**hole for how I handled the situation, and that I should apologise, and that my mother just shows love in weird ways.. Salvi will support me either way, but he prefers they don’t come here.. So Reddit !! AITA for snapping at my mom?

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edit: i have a snake!!!! love them. but anyways, i did confront my mother about this before, multiple times in a nice way, before snapping at her. it’s not like it was from the get-go “p**s off”. to those who mentioned it might be because i am overweight,

i don’t really measure my weight anymore, and i’m not at my lowest, but i am still underweight. also to those who asked it seems obvious, i didn’t know if kicking out my parents was the right response, because like? they’re my parents. also there’s been a few YTA/ESH responses.. thank you all !!!! :)

Family homes can become minefields when old hurts resurface. The OP, scarred by a childhood eating disorder fueled by their mother’s hyper-focus on weight, faced renewed criticism while hosting their parents. After failed attempts to set boundaries, their outburst—telling their parents to leave—sparked a family rift. The sister’s accusation of mishandling ignores the deeper issue: a mother’s harmful comments threatening the OP’s recovery.

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This reflects a broader challenge of navigating toxic family patterns. The mother’s remarks, framed as “love” by the sister, risk reigniting the OP’s eating disorder, a serious health threat. Dr. Cynthia Bulik, an eating disorder specialist, notes, “Triggers like weight comments can derail recovery; boundaries are essential for mental health.” The father’s silence and the sister’s defense enable the mother’s behavior, leaving the OP to protect themselves.

The OP’s prior attempts at calm discussion show restraint, but two months of tension in their own home pushed them to snap. A solution could involve no-contact boundaries or insisting the parents stay elsewhere, as the boyfriend prefers.

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Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Reddit’s serving up some fiery takes, with a mix of support and sharp wit. Here’s what users think about this family clash:

aspartameheart - NTA Let me get this straight you're graciously letting them stay at your place for two months and she's been bitching at you since day 3? Not only were you right to put her in her place, but I would absolutely would stick with not letting them stay if she continues her toxic behavior.

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hossquash - NTA. Toxic people can be family has well. Do what makes you happy

DefinitelyNotDracula - NTA What your mother has done to you has nothing to do with love. She has been abusing you since you were a child and your father, by being silent and not helping you, has been a part of her abuse. You have nothing to apologise for! The fact that you still tried to help them out says a lot about how nice of a person you are.

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If your mother won't shut her mouth about your weight then I would seriously consider removing her permanently from my life if I were you. What she has done is so damaging, I know that from personal experience. And seriously, your mom shows love in weird ways?? I can't stand abuse apologists.

If you were to tell your mother that she was too fat, looked old and wrinkly, would that be seen as you showing her love? No, I don't think so. It sounds like it's convenient for your family that you remain the s**pegoat so that neither your father nor your sister has to deal with your mother's cruelness.

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pjhh - and they both left to my sister’s.. Problem solved!. sister called me up to tell me that I was an a**hole for how I handled the situation. Now then, are you sure it wasn't because now *she* has to deal with them?. NTA.

TangyDestroyer_ - I’m going to say NTA. You’re an adult now and she has no right to control your diet, especially since she’s been doing it since you were 7.

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Squirtngreygoose - NTA. Every now and then you have to stand up to your parents, and telling you that you’ve gain weight and should eat less is absolutely not a sign of love!

Laquila - NTA. She kept pushing and wouldn't back off when you asked her, so you snapped. That's an understandable reaction and she deserved it. Two months of having people stay in your home would easily raise tensions. That's not love, that she is showing. It's emotional abuse that can lead to an eating disorder.

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A very important thing to note: It's Salvi's and your home, and if Salvi prefers they don't stay with you, you need to prioritize his needs over your obnoxious guests, who have overstayed their welcome and abused your generosity. Tell them to stay at your sister's. This could damage your relationship with Salvi.

eepithst - NTA. Eating disorders can kill. Sliding back into an eating disorder could kill *you*. There's no social obligation to be nice to people who are trying to m**der you, even if they are your parents.

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mariahbear212 - NTA your home your rules. Plus, she kept on saying things to you, pushing you further. Keep her out.

bsbwhwishsthrowaway - NTA. Granted, you didn’t handle it the best way (you should have spoken to her about it calmly before it got to the breaking point). However, this is for the best. Do not cave and let them come back, this is clearly a huge trigger (understandably) for you and its not worth it.. Side note: this is how you show control and manipulation, not “love”.

These opinions cut deep, but do they capture the full weight of protecting one’s health from family triggers?

This story lays bare the pain of family criticism hitting old scars. Was the OP right to snap and set a hard boundary, or should they have kept the peace? Would you kick out family for crossing a line, or try to mend things? Share your thoughts below!

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