No Appetite for Curves in the Age of Ozempic
And what this means for body positivity, inclusivity and diversity
In this article Ozempic is colloquially used as an umbrella term for all GLP-1s
It took all of 30 seconds to locate the more than 500k Ozempic-related tags on Instagram, and over 1.3 billion views on TikTok. What ensued was an endlessly tempting scroll of before and after photos and videos of people celebrating their new bodies, in new clothes of course, feeling beautiful and confident. What I also found were numerous pages dedicated to selling the wonder drug, which could apparently be delivered to my doorstep in less than 5 clicks. Although I have not found statistics for our region, it is important to note that about 5 percent of U.S. adults (that’s about 15.5 million people) have so far taken the drug, according to a recent Gallup poll.
I can’t remember the last time such a potent drug was so readily available for public consumption; a situation led by both social platforms that have allowed news of the weight loss drug to spread like wildfire, and the clearly lucrative market that has piqued the interest of those ready to make a very quick buck. What’s important to note is that the surge of users is unabating. According to Bank of America, the US alone is expecting 48 million (about a seventh of the population) to be on a variety of the weight loss drug by 2030. As for the global consumption, it is expected to go up to 70 million by 2028 as the drugs become cheaper still and more easily accessible.
And that remains the conundrum of every invention ever made with the intention of good. How can it be kept in responsible hands where it can be best prescribed and monitored. Ozempic, and other such drugs used to lose weight, were not made with weight loss in mind. In fact Ozempic has not yet been approved for weight loss by the FDA, although the active ingredient semaglutide has. An important fact I learned from Zeina Sahyoun MRes, MBA, Chief Marketing Officer of MedLabs.
Originally conceived as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, Ozempic’s active ingredient semaglutide lowers blood sugar levels and regulates insulin. It does so by imitating a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1, that slows stomach emptying and curbs hunger preventing blood sugar spikes in the process resulting in a substantial loss of weight. When used correctly, it can provide a real solution for individuals that have unfairly struggled with their weight for years due to insulin resistance and other such ailments. One that can impact their lives positively with an improved body image, sense of self-worth and over all confidence.
If only we could leave it there, however when unregulated, Ozempic and other such drugs can erase four essential wellness beliefs at once, thus impacting the global wellness landscape dramatically given the number of users. Health specialists have always advocated for body positivity, and diversity. The focus has always been on overall health and not a number on the scale. Today, Ozempic users if not properly informed may be sacrificing muscle mass, crucial for strong bodies and a high metabolism, in addition to potentially starving their bodies of key nutrients, vitamins and minerals. All in the name of weight loss.
We can add to these concerns, that of skin quality. Julius Few, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago and Beverly Hills, speaking to Allure magazine, estimates that about 25 to 30 percent of his patients are currently taking a GLP-1, and finds that their skin “doesn’t hold its elastic recoil the way it did.” Based on his experience, using a GLP-1 “almost seems to age the quality of the skin, like the skin takes on an appearance of an older person.” These are changes he hasn’t noticed in patients who have lost significant weight in other ways—like through diet or gastric bypass surgery—which makes him think it’s unique to GLP-1 usage. But again, it’s too early to tell what the true effects of Ozempic are on the skin; both negative and positive at such an early stage.
Many companies have jumped onto the Ozempic side effects bandwagon with face-plumping collagen boosters in skincare to battle the infamous Ozempic face. Nutrient and protein supplements have cropped up to help with the lack of calorie and protein intake. Hair and fitness are also providing solutions for the loss of muscle mass and common hair loss issues. Which begs the question, is there really a problem if you can put a Band-Aid on it?
One cause for alarm is perhaps the wide age group using such drugs. Loss of skin elasticity, muscle mass and metabolism are generally associated with ageing, so what really happens when young individuals use the drug? It is important to consider that once stopped and also over long term use, Ozempic and similar drugs may not be as effective, which further stresses the importance of building better lifestyle habits while on the drug. Again, unregulated use may result in reduced metabolism and muscle mass which seriously impacts weight loss naturally.
One of the greatest conversations to be had is a more long-term one. If thinness is so readily attainable, where do we stand in terms of body image, acceptance and diversity? The fashion world’s attempt at body positivity in the past decade has only reinforced a centuries-old belief, that one’s size is inextricably connected to a sense of self-worth unfortunately, due to societal perceptions and judgements that imply that thin is better.
The short-lived push for inclusivity of plus size models on both the runway and in retail has dwindled substantially, as the most recent Vogue Business Spring/Summer 2025 menswear size inclusivity report demonstrates. Across the season, just three out of 65 brands (4.5 percent) included at least one plus-size model. Four seasons ago, during the AW23 season in February 2023, eight shows out of 69 (11.5 percent) featured at least one plus size model.
Analysts agree that the pop culture influence of weight loss drugs is giving luxury labels and mass-market brands alike license to refocus on smaller sizes. Already a host of US-based retailers are seeing boosted demand for smaller clothing sizes, and falling demand for large sizes. According to The Wall Street Journal, retailers have been investing in fewer products that offer larger sizing, according to EDITED data. Additionally, retailers that have traditionally catered to the plus-size market have reduced their options.
To the detriment of many, curvier body shapes cannot be cancelled, which leaves us with a serious conversation to be had on inclusivity and body acceptance. One that is becoming increasingly hard to hear over the hype and din of Ozempic’s so called ‘success stories’, particularly from such influential personalities such as Oprah and Kim Kardashian. Many say that over time the craze will calm down or perhaps more people will be pressured into using Ozempic… Today the true effects of Ozempic misuse cannot be quantified, there just aren’t enough studies out there yet. It’s anyone guess what direction the world will go in, in terms of trends and beliefs. One thing is for sure though, it cannot remain as it is today.
