Is Nikocado Avocado Disabled? Yes, But It‘s Complicated

The short answer is yes, legally speaking, Nikocado Avocado does have a disability due to his obesity-related mobility issues. However, there is heated debate over whether he should identify as disabled considering he intentionally gained weight. Nikocado‘s controversial career leaves his disability status complex and multi-faceted.

Who is Nikocado Avocado?

Before diving into the disability discussion, let‘s look at Nikocado‘s background.

Nikocado Avocado was born Nicholas Perry in Ukraine in 1992. He was a gifted violinist as a child, earning a music degree and initially making YouTube videos playing the violin.

In 2016, seeking more revenue, he pivoted to mukbang – a viral video trend where people eat large amounts of food on camera.

Over the next few years, Nikocado gained a massive following from his over-the-top personality and binge eating challenges. But the nonstop feasting came at a cost…

Nikocado went from a fit 155 lbs vegan violinist to over 300 lbs subsisting on fast food. His mobility declined severely.

By 2021, he could barely stand without leg braces and primarily used mobility scooters when leaving the house. All this due to willfully gaining weight for views and income.

Understandably, many criticized this career path and questioned if Nikocado should truly identify as disabled. The ethics of intentional weight gain and mukbang remain hotly debated.

Now in late 2022, Nikocado has stopped posting without explanation. Fans are left wondering – what‘s next for this controversial figure?

Obesity and Disability: The Medical Perspective

From a medical standpoint, the level of obesity Nikocado reached does constitute an undisputed mobility disability.

According to the Obesity Action Coalition:

• Obesity is a chronic disease that can severely impair quality of life and mobility
• Joint pain, decreased stamina, back pain are common symptoms
• Morbid obesity makes many basic physical activities difficult or impossible
• Mobility devices like scooters may become necessary

The health complications related to Nikocado‘s obesity would occur regardless of what caused the weight gain initially. The human body was simply not designed to support 300+ lbs long term.

According to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lee Glass:

"When the body is subjected to excessive weight, the risk of injury and mobility impairment soars. The knees and back in particular take the brunt of the stress. For morbidly obese patients, tasks like standing, walking, bending down or using stairs can become excruciating."

Let‘s look at some sobering statistics on how extra weight impacts mobility:

Source: Duke University Study

As shown in this table, mobility challenges dramatically escalate with morbid obesity. Nikocado is well within the category most likely to require mobility aids.

Legally Disabled: The ADA Perspective

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects against discrimination based on disability. Obesity that impairs major life activities qualifies as a disability under the ADA.

Mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and other assistance related to obesity are legally entitled ADA accommodations.

Therefore, from a legal perspective, Nikocado Avocado has a right to identify as a disabled person based on his obesity-related reduced mobility.

His eligibility is unrelated to how he became obese. The same protections would apply for genetics or a medical condition.

Ethical Concerns: Self-Inflicted Obesity

This brings us to the heart of the controversy surrounding Nikocado‘s situation:

Should someone who willfully ate their way to obesity status claim disability?

• Critics argue Nikocado brought this on himself and does not deserve sympathy or assistance.
• They feel it also harms the image of others with disabilities not caused by personal choices.

However, supporters counter that:

• Discrimination based on how someone became disabled is still unethical.
• Judging harshly could discourage others with self-inflicted disabilities from seeking help.
• Nikocado‘s mental health may also play a role in his weight gain.

There are persuasive points on both sides of this debate. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers.

My Take as a Health Writer

In my opinion, while Nikocado does technically have the right to identify as disabled, doing so feels inappropriate and somewhat offensive.

Mobility aids and accomodations should be reserved for those with no choice in their disabilities. Nikocado chose fame and fortune over health. That was his prerogative, but actions have consequences.

That said, I hope Nikocado takes this break to focus on his mental health and get back on a positive path. Obesity is hard to overcome, but not impossible. With support and determination, he can still turn his life around for the better.

Looking Forward: What‘s Next for Nikocado?

At this time, Nikocado‘s future remains uncertain. Here are a few possible directions this saga could take:

• He abandons mukbang and social media for good to focus on weight loss and violin
• He returns to YouTube, claiming "disability" and continuing his controversial videos
• He tries returning to YouTube as a weight loss channel, documenting his journey back to health
• His health continues declining, forcing him to retire from videos permanently

Unfortunately, the sheer level of weight Nikocado has gained makes lasting mobility impairment likely, even with weight loss. The damage cannot be fully undone.

For now, only time will tell if we see a return of this larger-than-life internet figure.

Key Takeaways

• Nikocado Avocado is technically disabled by obesity according to medical experts and legal definitions
• His condition resulted from intentionally overeating for his mukbang channel
• Critics argue he should not identify as disabled given this context
• The ethics of self-inflicted disability remain controversial
• Nikocado‘s future and health trajectory remain uncertain

Nikocado‘s dramatic story serves as a cautionary tale of the dangerous extremes people will go to for fame and fortune online. Let‘s hope some lessons can be learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.