Did Veganism Make Nikocado Avocado Fat?

May 18, 2023 Ashley 0 Comments

It was a pretty typical morning.

Whip up some breakfast. Sit down. Open Youtube to find something entertaining to watch while I shove some oats and fruit into my face hole. But today the algorithm fed me something that made me not want to feed myself anymore: a Nikocado Avocado mukbang. As I watched this beast of a man feast on one glazed and creme filled diabetes tire after the other, I suddenly lost my appetite. “How does anyone let themselves get this far?” I wondered. I felt genuine concern. But, then, as I looked closer at the name, I felt something else: deja vu. I knew this guy from somewhere. Indeed, upon further inspection, I realized I recalled him from back in the 2015 time frame when I was a full fledged vegan. He’d hang out with all the other plant based Youtubers who have also since quit and begun eating eggs, fish, and basically whatever they want. But they didn’t take it this far. I had to do a little bit of internet research to ensure this was even the same guy; but after a quick image search, I could confirm.

This was Nick Perry… AKA Nikocado Avocado.

Now, the knee jerk instinct for many is pretty typical. I saw a few comments below the video that I admittedly chuckled at myself. (“That chair he’s sitting in is stronger than my relationship!”) Witty – but cruel for a man who is clearly going through something deep and dark internally to be struggling in this way. And, sure enough, when we dig deeper, the truth reveals itself. Perry admitted in an interview that he’d struggled with mental health issues for some time. Originally, he was a talented young vegan violinist who found a community online with fellow plant based individuals. After attending the Woodstock Fruit Fest, he began a relationship with a fellow plant based member and Youtuber in 2014. It was after this, at his significant other’s suggestion, that he started a Youtube channel catered toward veganism and his music. All that to say – he had a seemingly normal existence. Cut to two years later and Perry was making videos about how he was breaking away from the vegan community which was very hostile and judgmental. That’s when he moved onto mukbang. It started out with relatively healthy meals, but quickly hit a downward spiral.

Much of what he does now is for show.

The online conflicts. The clickbait. The extremeness of the mukbang meals. He does it for views because views equal money. He has a background in performance arts and admits to playing a role online. But what he can’t fake is the reality of his diseased state now. His running joke is that his obesity is “just water weight”. However, in 2021, he stated that he fractured his ribs coughing. A normal bodily process – and his couldn’t handle it. This is far beyond a “show”. So what happened? Was it when he found out he was adopted? Was it getting shunned from his peer group? Was it the crazy-making internal environment that fame can breed? Was it addiction to the money as people paid to watch him slowly kill himself? Or was there always a disordered eating and this has been about control since the beginning? Remember that restricted calories and excessive eating are both about control.

In the end, Nicholas Perry’s story is his and his alone. We can’t attribute veganism or anything else to where he ended up. He’s conceded a history of mental health conditions, which sadly have contributed to some of his dietary and lifestyle choices. (Add onto that the possibility that the medication to address said conditions sometimes can cause weight gain and other side effects.) That said, any exclusionary diet can harbor the potential to be a bit detrimental to mental health. You’re limited on what you can eat. This means that perhaps you can’t take part in some social functions. It means you can’t eat certain foods if your blood sugar is low and all that’s available are “forbidden foods”. Then, on the other side of that coin – your “people” aren’t even supporting you much of the time. When you’re following such an unpopular diet, it’s nice to have a tribe of like minded and understanding people to turn to.

Instead, you may (like Nick) be faced with judgment and cruelty.

You’ll be following the correct diet, but perhaps your clothing, hair and facial products, or mode of transportation “isn’t vegan enough”. If I’m being honest, that was part of the push for me away from wanting to maintain the vegan lifestyle or associate with anyone who was associated with it. Granted, I didn’t go off the rails and eat my weight in Krispy Kreme on Youtube. However, I also didn’t make veganism my whole identity and have my only friends be shrub munchers, like so many of these internet famous humans do. And, more importantly (all evidence to the contrary), I don’t suffer from the mental illness Nick does. The sad fact is, however, that our food can either be our medicine or our poison. And by choosing poorly, we make it the latter, thereby exacerbating any proclivity toward mental unwellness. Sure, getting the help we need – be it cognitive behavioral therapy or drugs – is step one. But there’s no prescribed pharmaceutical that can counteract a bad diet. In the end, your diet should be for you and you alone. Not to impress a friend group. Not to make money. Not for fame and notoriety. You find a sustainable weight loss and maintenance plan that works for you – and you stick with it for yourself.

If you know you’re struggling with mental health – sort that out first.

Both mental and physical guidance is crucial to staying on track for weight loss and wellness alike.

Don’t wait if you’re suffering. See which providers take your insurance and get going today!