It seems women’s bodies can never exist on their own but have to constantly be tempered with, where new trends arise every day and with it a new conception of how we should present ourselves to the world. For example, my TikTok fyp has lately been flooded with videos of labiaplasty and recommendations of #feminine hygiene products that make your vagina smell good. Now the real issue is that this trend is just one in a million. These scientifically inaccurate contents promote a harmful conception of body image for young girls and women in general. Additionally, the sad thing to point out is that most of this content is made by women for women and just perpetuates implicit ideas of the male gaze and male validation. Another point that has to be highlighted is that a large portion of this detrimental content is posted by celebrities or people that have genuine influence and large followings of people on social media. In one TikTok video a woman named Jessi Peralta proudly exclaims “I was a pussycat doll and now I just want a pretty pussy”. Looking further than her poorly constructed wordplay this type of rhetoric magnifies women’s bodies as mere aesthetically pleasing commodities.
This article aims to address the everlasting issue of weight loss as a trend and the glamorization of bodies that look unhealthily skinny, essentially receding in a kind of heroin chic era. The latest trend for weight loss has been the use of diabetes drugs to the point that this is what pops up on google when I type the words diabetes drug: diabetes drug for weight loss.
This practice is nothing short of horrifying and it is coming from celebrities. Two types of drugs are now primarily used: Ozempic and Wegovy. As the opening of this New York Times article frames it “Ozempic, a drug used to treat diabetes, has gained attention recently as celebrities, a tech mogul and TikTok influencers have described taking it to lose weight in short time frames.” Indeed, when asked how he looked healthy and in good shape, Elon Musk tweeted that he used Wegovy and since then a craze for these injections has peeked. The first issue that arises whilst using these drugs is the side effects. These symptoms can range from nausea, dehydration and changes in bowel movements but also increase the risk of pancreatitis and many patients even end up in the ER, says Dr. Kraftson, “a clinical associate professor in the division of metabolism, endocrinology and diabetes at Michigan Medicine.” It seems that the elite members of our society are out to set an example for others by proudly stating that they would rather risk their lives, their health, and others (mainly diabetics) than put on a few kilos.
Research has shown that the use of this type of substance also fosters a lack of excitement for food. By demonizing food and making it less appetizing people using Ozempic or Wegovy take their suppression of hunger and their idealizing of weight loss further by permanently altering their relationship with food. This trend uncovers a much bigger problem in society: the need to lose weight. The idealization of skinnier and smaller bodies especially in women has always existed but it is now coming to the detriment of others as numerous doctors have reported that because of its misuse, this drug, initially for diabetic patients is seeing a shortage. This explicitly entails that the patients that need the drug the most, diabetics, cannot access it.
Another doctor remarks that “Other than Viagra and Botox, I’ve seen no other medication so quickly become part of modern culture’s social vernacular.” I find this statement incredibly alarming and sad. Are we inherently saying that our life is successful only if we look young, have loads of sex, and are skinny? That’s a harsh no from me, we must collectively do better and start addressing this issue of representation. This problem inscribes itself in the everlasting patriarchal standards that taint our society but also with the constant need for companies and other institutions to profit from our bodies. Jameela Jamil, an actress, and feminist advocate took to her Instagram account to challenge and reject this harmful trend brilliantly concluding: “In short. In 2023 Can we please… Finally… Let women eat ? ”
That being said, here are a few resources if you are struggling with eating disorders and/or diabetes.