To be so upset over grown adults bullying this young woman

[lateas]

Has anyone else seen the photo circulating of the “health minister” of Wales?

First of all, this isn’t true. Her name is Athika Ahmed. She's a 23 year old medical student from Cardiff who's been a dedicated member of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's youth panel since she was 16. She helped develop new educational resources (launched in December 2025) for Welsh secondary schools on topics like menstrual health, endometriosis, pelvic health, and menopause. These aim to reduce stigma and help young people spot when to seek help. She's not an official 'Health Ambassador for women' appointed by the Welsh Government or NHS Wales in a senior role – that's a bit of an exaggeration. But her work is real, positive, and focused on improving health education, especially in communities where these topics can be taboo.

There are thousands of comments regarding her appearance. People mocking her, plenty of racism too. It’s sad that people are taking the piss of her appearance instead of focusing on her work. Not that that she should have to explain herself, but she has a tumour on her pituitary gland. This type of tumour interferes with hormones, causing conditions such as Cushing disease which has a direct impact on weight.

I’ve actually unfriended a couple of people on Facebook tonight. It’s bullying plain and simple. No wonder people kill themselves. There some bastards in this world.

It's disgusting that people are mocking her. But just to clarify, its actually a different young woman who has a tumour on her pituitary gland, this is from the BBC article:

Molly Fenton also sits on the youth panel and said her periods were an early clue to more serious health issues.

"I live with a brain tumour that has an impact on my optic nerve and my pituitary gland, the home of your hormones and my periods were one of the first signs," she said, adding that she had her first bleed when she was six, before her periods started at eight.

I just googled her and someone’s (a grown man) instagram post about her came up. The comments were vile.

People are going to stop trying to make the UK better because all they get for it is vitriol.

Its revolting.

Wait, why would anyone think you are being unreasonable about that? Why have people voted that way?

She has a head scarf, is Muslim, is brown, overweight, a woman, and is advocating for women. Sadly you couldn't find a better target for white British men.

Yanbu

You may be interested in this thread also www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5479296-athika-ahmed-welsh-health-ambassador-can-we-show-her-some-love

There is another thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womensrights/5479296-athika-ahmed-welsh-health-ambassador-can-we-show-her-some-love?reply=150019787

I'm apoplectic right now. I can't even look at that thread anymore it's so full of ignorance, bullying and assumptive bollocks. Totally agree with you by the way @lateas - it's beyond disgraceful.

I expect because the OP hasn't a clue what she's talking about.

I mean given that Athika Ahmed does not have any kind of tumour.

I'm not sure how the OP could've got that so wrong if she'd even bothered to read up on her??

I’m human, I made a mistake. I’m sorry you’re so perfect @INX

It doesn’t change the fact that this woman has been bullied and mocked all over social media, does it.

Agreed. Poor woman. I hope she ignores these nasty people and continues with her brilliant work.

You can try to deflect all you like with the 'perfect' nonsense.

But I'm more interested in why you'd start a thread about someone you have no clue about, whilst making out you do?

Baffling.

For someone that doesn't approve of bullying, that was a very snarky comment.

I suspect the YABU voters might be recognising a certain hypocrisy in you telling others how they should think and behave.

Deflect? Are you alright? I've read through articles about this young woman (where do you think I got my info if I haven't taken the time to read anything?). I've also seen comments from others saying she has a tumor. I admitted I was mistaken (have you never made a mistake before?). Is it not okay for me to still feel upset that she's been bullied? I think you should be more concerned with how this poor woman has been treated.

Ffs 🤦🏼‍♀️

I just think this amazing young woman deserves more, that's all 🤷‍♀️

When you have time, read up on her properly.

You won't be disappointed, she's truly inspiring.

How was my reply bullying? I’m genuinely curious. The person who posted seems to think that I did not research this woman (which is wrong) and has argued about an error I acknowledged. It appears her focus is more on my mistake than on the mistreatment of this woman, which is the main issue of the discussion 🤦‍♀️

That was pretty much the point of my post. My heart was in the right place, it’s a shame you can’t see that. I guess some people will literally pick at anything though 🤷🏼‍♀️

Well you didn't research the woman really, did you?

I pointed that out and you tried to deflect with a childish accusation of me being 'so perfect' 😳

Where do you think I got the information below from if I haven't looked into her? It doesn’t make sense. You seem to have a bone to pick for some reason. You’ve completely sidetracked the entire discussion and turned what was meant to be an uplifting post into an argument. I still don’t understand why you’re more concerned with my mistake over the treatment of this woman.

“Her name is Athika Ahmed. She's a 23 year old medical student from Cardiff who's been a dedicated member of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's youth panel since she was 16. She helped develop new educational resources (launched in December 2025) for Welsh secondary schools on topics like menstrual health, endometriosis, pelvic health, and menopause. These aim to reduce stigma and help young people spot when to seek help. She's not an official 'Health Ambassador for women' appointed by the Welsh Government or NHS Wales in a senior role – that's a bit of an exaggeration. But her work is real, positive, and focused on improving health education, especially in communities where these topics can be taboo”

'Pointing it out' would have been...

"Actually, she doesn't have a tumor, that's someone else mentioned in the article. Here's a link"

...instead of being so keen to tell everyone that OP '...didn't have a clue".

You snapped at her for what could well be and honest mistake and got a shirty response, what do you expect?

There you go again ;)

You have decided how the conversation should progress rather than just accept other people's comments. If you don't see that then I can see why you can't see any of your behaviours as antagonistic.

FWIW I didn't accuse you of bullying - I said you were snarky by calling out her "perfection".

So here's how your latest response came across:

The person who posted seems to think that I did not research this woman (which is wrong)
She is entitled to her opinion of why you made such a mistake. You assert that you did research but offer no explanation as to how you still made such an error which comes across as dismissive as if she has no right to critique your post.

and has argued about an error I acknowledged.
Not one that you acknowledged prior to her raising it, so again seems to be defensive (and questions her right to question your post)

It appears her focus is more on my mistake than on the mistreatment of this woman, which is the main issue of the discussion
She has different priorities to you. She is so permitted. You come across as expecting everyone to agree with you or you'll get annoyed with them. That's coercive behaviour which in an office might be called bullying.

People are allowed to go off at tangents amd shouldn't be chastised for.doing so. I think people criticising appearance are always pathetic.

In this case though I don't see her input as particularly valuable and I dont understand (not researched) why she has been named.above others. I dont just know whether she's self-promoting and taking credit for a group effort, or has been promoted by NHS Wales because she's not your average welshman, or quite what the background to the story is.

That would have been helpful as part of your OP rather than a CV of the web page .

HTH

It’s absolutely disgraceful I am so upset by it and have unfollowed a few Welsh content creators today who have piled on. She is not the “health ambassador” she is simply on a youth panel of women who have created educational resources for girls.

it’s disgusting and racially motivated

As someone mentioned earlier, the poster seemed more interested in pointing out my mistake than in correcting me nicely or giving me some useful advice. So yes, I shot back with a "snarky" response. I have the right to defend myself. I acknowledged my mistake, but that wasn’t good enough.

This post was meant to be positive and to show gratitude to this lady for all her hard work. I’ll just leave it at that.

This creator has really upset me as he really stirred the pot. https://www.facebook.com/share/1AhSzD2W3m/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Katie Hopkins has even opened her vile gob about her too

yep, saw this post earlier. I use to follow him too

This thread probably needs removing,if the lady doesn't have the health issues stated.
On a side note
People need to let her get on with her job ,and mind their own business about her size