Older woman told a frail-looking runner to stop because exercise was 'eating her alive' — one health update left the stranger silent
A run can be a simple way to clear the mind, especially during a difficult period. For one woman, it was a part of her routine that helped her find some joy despite personal challenges. While running with her dog, another woman approached her and began commenting on her appearance. The stranger told her to stop running and exclaimed that her body was suffering because of it, looking at her weight. The runner and content creator, Dr. Maggie Osa, later spoke about the encounter in an Instagram video shared on September 23, 2026, through her account @mags.run.
The woman followed her and repeated her concerns, while also making remarks about her body. "You need to stop. Your body is eating itself alive," the woman said. Dr. Osa eventually explained why the comments were especially hurtful. She told that woman that she was currently receiving chemotherapy and was trying to get through the treatment. The stranger immediately changed her tone and apologized. The runner later explained that the medication and treatment caused her to lose weight, something she was already sensitive about. "I am in chemotherapy right now, and I am doing my best," she told the woman, who then backed away and said she was sorry.
The encounter ended, but the experience stayed with her. A stranger might not know what another individual is dealing with just by looking at them. Dr. Osa explained that running had become an important source of happiness while she dealt with illness and treatment. She was outside with her dog, doing something that helped her feel like herself despite everything happening in her life. The stranger may have believed she was helping, but her repeated comments made the situation more upsetting.
Dr. Osa used the experience to remind others to think before commenting on someone's body or appearance. She explained that there could be reasons behind changes that are impossible for strangers to know. For her, running was not about harming herself but about holding onto something that brought her happiness. "Running is something that brings me so much joy through all this hardship," she said. Her experience showed how one comment can hurt someone already facing challenges that are not visible outside.
One should avoid judging a book by its cover, as another incident showed. A new mother was shopping with her children when a stranger asked if she was pregnant again. She calmly said no, but the woman continued by commenting on her body. "Oh, it's just leftover from the last one," the stranger said, leaving the mother uncomfortable. She explained that she had an autoimmune disease, and the conversation ended there. The woman later explained that she lives with a serious liver condition that has affected her health and may require a transplant. The encounter showed why appearance alone cannot tell a person what someone is dealing with.
For more interesting stories, follow @mags.run on her Instagram account.