The latest trend in social media and celebrity culture is weight loss. This is nothing new; it resurfaces every few decades. In the early 2000s, diet culture was extremely popular. Low-waisted pants were the look, and women like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears represented the ideal body archetype. Runway models were extremely thin, and brands like Victoria’s Secret had everyone idolizing a “skinny culture.” This mindset appeared to have died down by 2010 with the rise of the Kardashians and their curvier figures; however, as of 2025, many people have reverted back to preferring a thinner physique.
This widespread infatuation with weight loss has people desperately finding ways to shed pounds quickly. One very popular and slightly exploitative practice as of now is the use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications containing ingredients like semaglutide or tirzepatide. These ingredients are originally meant for people with type 2 diabetes to help manage their blood sugar and digestive irregularities. Semaglutide is the medicinal ingredient in Ozempic, the most popular GLP-1 treatment. GLP-1 prescriptions regulate glucose levels, preventing hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia – high and low blood sugar levels, respectively. Mild symptoms may include headaches, shakiness, pale skin, or irritability. Severe symptoms may include blurred vision, loss of muscle control, loss of consciousness, or even seizures.
A shortage of medications, including Ozempic, began in 2022 and persisted through 2025. The shortage was largely due to an increase in nonprescription and off-label use and demand from individuals who do not have diabetes, leaving people with type 2 diabetes without access to their GLP-1 receptor agonist treatments. For many individuals with type 2 diabetes, these medications are essential for managing their condition, making the shortage not only inconvenient but also harmful.
Yet, people who do not need semaglutide or similar medications for weight loss put both the diabetics who need them and themselves at risk. If somebody takes a medication similar to semaglutide when it isn’t medically necessary, there could be extreme side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, and even thyroid cancer. Medications like Ozempic alter the center inside the brain responsible for appetite — the hypothalamus. This can be dangerous for someone who does not need to lose much weight because it negatively impacts nutritional intake and can warp a person’s perception of food, changing the way they feel about textures, tastes and smells of everyday meals. When food seems less appealing, people tend to eat less, regardless of what their body actually needs.
Rapid weight loss is dangerous because the human body is not designed to lose significant amounts of weight so quickly and cannot maintain proper homeostasis in those conditions. It often results in nutritional deficiencies, a lack of electrolytes and extreme fatigue. Many social media users have coined the term “Ozempic face” after seeing celebrities’ sunken or hollow facial features following rapid weight loss from these medications.
Although these side effects seem discouraging, they still have a strange appeal to social media users right now. “Heroin chic” is a term used to describe this look — dark circles under the eyes, extremely thin physique and a visibly unhealthy appearance. This may be an extreme spinoff of the “indie sleaze” aesthetic, which glorified the unbothered, unkempt look. But heroin chic pushes it further, glamorizing a person who looks sickly yet effortlessly beautiful. Why is looking like an unwell drug addict something the beauty industry is once again glorifying?
Romanticizing disorders like anorexia and bulimia is something social media users everywhere have normalized. Anorexia is marked by restricting food intake, while bulimia typically involves binge eating and purging. The danger here isn’t just that these habits are being promoted — it’s how subtle and casual this promotion has become.
The heavy influence that celebrities have over fashion and beauty standards is undeniable. When people see Megan Trainor lose 60 pounds using Ozempic, of course, they’re tempted. It was even revealed in an episode of The Kardashians that Scott Disick was taking Mojaro, a similar medication. But the bigger question is—how many people genuinely want to lose weight for themselves, and how many are doing it simply because a Kardashian made it seem like the thing to do? This growing obsession with fast fixes over healthful habits gets people injecting medications they don’t need because it feels trendy.
Many influential voices have recently been promoting “wellness.” If done correctly, this can be a very positive and helpful message. Unfortunately, some individuals are using it as a cover for harmful trends and aesthetics that are far from body-positive. Not long ago, Vogue released a Hairspray tribute video — a musical known for featuring a plus-sized lead role — yet they cast Gigi Hadid as Tracy Turnblad. Many found this offensive and tone-deaf. It’s another example of how subtle and not-so-subtle weight stigma continues to thrive in media culture.
