For the past several months, rumors about Jill Duggar’s husband Derick Dillard’s health have been circulating non-stop on social media.
Fans have expressed concerns about Dillard’s weight, and then some.
In recent months, some fans have suggested that the 27-year-old appears to be losing his hair and struggling with dental issues as well.
Others have even gone so far as to claim that Dillard nearly died during his family’s final weeks of their mission trip to El Salvador.
Obviously, Derick didn’t die. He and Jill made it home safe.
The Dillards have been back in the United States for quite some time now, but yet the concerns regarding Dillard’s health have persisted.
“Derick looks very sick, and undernourished. Looks like his hair is falling out as a result as well,” a fan wrote on recent photo of his family.
Derick has yet to speak on the matter, but it seems that Jill has become fed up with the rumors, based on a recent social media caption.
Of course, the Duggars aren’t a particularly confrontational lot, so she didn’t come right out and say:
"Yes! My husband lost some weight because there’s not a single Chick-Fil-A in all of El Salvador! We should’ve researched it!"
No. She was a little more subtle …
Not only is Derick eating, Jill helpfully pointed out – with a visual aid to really drive home her point – he’s bulking up on crap!
It started with recipes for spaghetti pie and buffalo wings. But that was only the beginning of Daddy Dilly’s dietary binge.
You think you like junk food? You have no idea.
Now, Jill and Derick are stepping up their epic caloric growth campaign with picture like the one below, posted last night.
Seriously, this is next-level stuff:
"Ahh… Nothing quite like a good bowl of fried Oreos for a bedtime snack! #nofilter," Derick captioned, and hashtagged the pic.
One can only assume that the weirdness in that bowl is the monstrosity known as fried Oreos, which apparently are a thing that exists.
To underline the dueling points she was trying to make – that Derick does in fact eat, and fans need to chill – Jill commented:
“lol just wondering what people will say about your diet now?????"
#watchingcomments #cheapentertainment."
We understand what she’s going for, no question about it.
Still, we can’t help but feel that Jill’s attempts to disprove the rumors about her husband’s declining health are a bit misguided.
No one’s doubting that Derick is still eating junk food …
He just doesn’t seem to be putting on any weight!
In all likelihood, the 27-year-old is just fine, and the pounds melted off of him during their time in a tropical climate with fewer food options.
It’s not like he was overweight to begin with, either …
One encouraging sign is that Derick, who once worked as a tax accountant at Walmart, has returned to work after his missionary hiatus.
He hasn’t gone back to the Wal, however … or to that field.
Recent reports indicate that Dillard accepted a substitute teaching position with the Springdale, Arkansas school system.
Yes, a member of the Duggar clan actually doing real work.
Dillard’s foray into this new occupation can only be a good sign for Derick’s health – but maybe not for the family’s future as reality TV stars.
As for Jill’s midwife career, that remains up in the air.