My body dysmorphia started before I was old enough to realize what it was. I spent my childhood competing as a gymnast. At age t I quit. My body changed. I got my period straight away. Without the 25 hours a week commitment in the gym, I started to notice the way my calves were bigger than the other girls at school.
I remember being thirteen and learning that Megan Fox had a 24 inch waist, then fixating on how I could achieve the same. I spent every year watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, sifting through tabloids in the checkout aisle while my mom handed the checkout lady her coupons, and hearing Tyra Banks tell naive, hopeful girls they won’t make it in the industry unless they’re practically malnourished.
I picked up the book Pretty Little Liars and when I read of a character sticking a toothbrush in her throat to stay skinny, my mind veered away from thinking “that’s bad” and the lightbulb switched on.
It became about control. Control over my body, my appearance, and the way others saw me. When I was at my skinniest, I felt seen. My double zero body strutted around the streets of New York City and Los Angeles.
Photo Credit: Annie Spratt (@anniespratt)
I got considered for more roles and got more attention from men who wanted to date me and girls who wanted to be me. It also gave me an ulcer in my stomach, sore hands, and debilitating mental health. Finally, after 10 years dealing with disordered eating and bulimia, I got help.
After being in recovery for over six years, it was triggering when I first heard about Ozempic, and witnessed people in the spotlight losing weight quickly.
The thought of using a drug to lose weight gave me old thoughts I believed I had worked through. Should I get on it too? How bad can it really be?
I had fought hard to be able to eat pasta without thinking of ridding myself of it directly after. I had learned to accept my new jean size. My physical health was better than ever, and it became scary to see how quickly my mental health could slip again. It was only after seeing others, too, begin to rely on the medication, that I started to realize—this wasn’t just about a quick fix. It was about the dangerous allure of an idealized body image, and the obsession that so many of us face in pursuit of it.
Ozempic, a popular GLP-1 drug (Semaglutide) was approved by the FDA in 2017 for treatment of diabetes, rose to popularity in 2024 when it was approved for treatment of obesity. There are many benefits in using a drug like this, but only when used the right way via a medical doctor. It has been wonderful seeing success stories from normal people who have struggled with their weight for years on end, finally have something that actually works.
For primary care doctors like me, who have counseled thousands of patients — often unsuccessfully — about their weight, this news is welcome. For many of those living with obesity, these medicines can feel like a game changer.—Lisa Doggett, a columnist at UT public health, stated in her opinion piece on NPR
But then the media started to shift away from the body positivity movement to an era of women shrinking into bones on our TV screens. Suddenly, it felt like every celebrity shifted back to following the famous Kate Moss quote, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” 
The Kardashians, though none of them have admitted to using the drug, went from openly embracing their curves to skeletal-like figures. A fashion designer in Hollywood who wishes to remain anonymous for this piece, shared “Everyone’s on some kind of drug now, whether they’re admitting to it or not. Everyone’s sample size again, it’s like the 90’s.”
Many have spoken about it and admitted to using it, including Heather Gay of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Chelsea Handler, and even Oprah. It was addressed on the popular pop culture podcast, MesSy:
“I’m annoyed at myself that I’m admitting this and I’d like to get to the bottom of why I’m a little triggered about all the Ozempic stuff. It’s upsetting me. I wish I didn’t care. It felt like we were on this road to solidifying body positivity, and every shape and size and color, and everyone’s looking the same now.” – Jaimie Lynn Siegler
Dr. Lisa Green, a psychologist specializing in eating disorders, explains, ‘The rise in popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic has created a perfect storm for individuals with a history of eating disorders. The promise of quick results can make a person feel invincible, but the risks of falling back into harmful patterns of behavior are very real.’
Research has shown that more than 30% of people who use weight-loss medications like Ozempic report experiencing psychological side effects, including heightened anxiety and an unhealthy obsession with food.
Studies from the National Eating Disorders Association have also found a strong correlation between weight loss drugs and the exacerbation of eating disorders in individuals with a history of disordered eating behaviors. Ozempic works by suppressing appetite, which may lead to extreme restriction of food intake, fueling harmful behaviors like calorie counting, binging, and purging—symptoms commonly seen in bulimia.
I fear for all women consuming media in 2024. I know my younger self would have been looking at this Ozempic craze wondering how I could get my hands on some. My current, late 20’s self, even after years of therapy and recovery, is still triggered. Body Dysmorphia and eating disorders stick with you for life. Ozempic is not worth the quick fix.
Featured Image:Photo Credit: Faruk Tokluoğlu (@faruktokluoglu)
