we need to talk about Ozempic.

are YOU perplexed by this "miracle weight loss drug" Ozempic?! have YOU seen countess Tiktoks on Ozempic face and celebrity weight loss?! do YOU feel like you hear all this buzz around the drug without actually knowing anything about it?! well, have I got the video for YOU!
strap in for an hour long odyssey through the discourse surrounding Ozempic: what it is, how it works, the shortage and the role of Big Pharma, diet culture, fatphobia and weight bias, the celebrities using it, the impact on the beauty standard, and the future of this drug that's become a household name.
time stamps:
0:00 intro
4:32 wtf is ozempic
8:40 fatphobia & diet culture
16:28 big pharma & the ozempic shortage
29:43 celebrity culture & beauty standards
40:22 the wealth gap
44:16 the future of ozempic
instagram: / elle.literacy
letterboxd: letterboxd.com/elleliteracy/
faq
what's your accent? i lived in america til i was 7 and ireland since then so my accent is a mix between the two!
camera: canon m50 mark ii
microphone: rode reporter / rode wireless go ii
editing: adobe premiere pro
eyeshadow: kaja bento box trio
SOURCES:
books:
You Just Need to Lose Weight & 19 Other Myths about Fat People, Aubrey Gordon
Fearing the Black Body, Sabrina Strings
Trick Mirror, Jia Tolentino
Dante's Inferno (a poem I guess but whatevs)
podcasts:
Maintenance Phase (Ozempic)
Weight for It (Episode 3 & 4)
Life Kit (Thoughts on Ozempic from a body positive doctor)
articles:
-"Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity", New England Journal of Medicine (STEP Trials)
-"Will the Ozempic Era Change How We Think About Being Fat and Being Thin?", Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker
-"Ozempic has won, body positivity has lost. And I want no part of it", Rachel Pick, the Guardian
-"Have Our Attempts to Curb Obesity Done More Harm Than Good?", Areeba N Memon, Asavari S Gowda, et. al., National Library of Medicine
-“The real winners of the Ozempic craze? Big Pharma”, Caitlyn Clark, Dazed
-"Celebrities Keep Distancing Themselves from Ozempic", Tariro Mzezewa, the Cut
-"Oprah Proves Diet Culture Spares No One", Jennifer Weiner, New York Times
-"CNN Exclusive: Prescriptions for popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs soared, but access is limited for some patients", Deirdre McPhillips, CNN
-"The N.Y.C. Neighborhood That’s Getting Even Thinner on Ozempic", Joseph Goldstein, NYT
-"Ozempic Can’t Fix What Our Culture Has Broken", Tressie McMillan Cottom, NYT
-"Doctors have fatphobia, too - which does serious harm to patients", Kate Manne, the Washington Post
-"Worth Your Weight? Re-examining the Link between Obesity and Wages", Michael T. Owyang & E Katarina Vermann, The Regional Economist
-"The Moral Panic Over Ozempic Misses the Point ", Rachel Bedard, New York Magazine

[@private755]

If a celebrity uses it for weight loss it’s suddenly not abusing drugs recreationally

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Because it is not addictive in the same way opiates are, it just doesn't fall into the same classification of harm in people's minds - not to say it shouldn't! My uncle keeps trying ozempic and it's great for the first couple of weeks but after that it paralyzes his gut, he can't keep anything down and hes constipated. None of the people I know who are on ozempic are doing any work to regulate the way they think and feel about food so they can maintain the weight loss when they come off. Every time they come off of it, they go back to the regular eating habits and balloon back up because they've learned nothing

[@brandonj7586]

Not sure what this sentence is supposed to mean but if it's for weight loss then it's not recreational.

[@user-vb6eh5po4t]

@@brandonj7586it’s not for weight loss it’s for disbetics

[@nanasaldarriaga7452]

​@@brandonj7586for any pathology or sickness you're supposed to respect the algorythm of treatment, and there are guides for treatment of every ailment, guides based on studies, studies done that prove efficacy of treatment. For weight loss FIRST CHOICE is lifestyle changes, ozempic should only be used on patients who implementing lifestyle changes are not able to see any weightloss

[@nanasaldarriaga7452]

Celebrities are not following the algorythm of treatment, they are creating shortages for patients who really need the drugs. Att: a med student who studies the guides.

[@who__cares__]

Ozempic??? Nah I'll stick with the natural stuff 👃❄️

[@elleliteracy]

dead

[@Vivi-ol1lh]

@@elleliteracyliterally 😭😬

[@amy1670]

Exactlyyyy

[@rgggxo]

I just choked on my coffee.

[@blairw9343]

My kinda bitch 😂😂

[@ropesquid2085]

Surprise! It was capitalism all along! But for real, sometimes people need to be reminded that so much of our insecurities are manufactured so they can be profited from.

[@WonderfulWorldofAwesomeness]

Not all obesity is only a problem because of looks or diabetes. Some of it causes mobility issues, joint problems, and a lot of other things that can negatively affect one’s life. I’m tired of not being able to walk more than a half a block before getting winded.

[@lenas6246]

you americans are really funny with the way you engage endlessly in shitty media consumpiton and celebrity culture and then you only see capitalism monetizing the stuff you are obssesing with. maybe stop and fight monetization of more essential things

[@lenas6246]

you know that these video always do the same bla bla about capitalism and privileges regurgitating the same causes comeltely missing the context hat is not circulating in media

[@f.ades6329]

Maybe the real treasure was the capitalism we made along the way or whatever

[@lornatw]

At the end of the day once we are aware of being profited off or m3dia harming our self image it is then our responsibility and control to start changing things for ourselves healthily. But unfortunately it's very easy to fall down a rabbit hole and getting out of that is when things become less controllable and takes time. However I do know alot of people who know all the info, are not in a rabbit hole or actual struggle but still blame outside things for their insecurities when they have the most ability and access to being in a good self image place!

[@cleoskoalas]

not youtube giving me an ad for a weight loss app halfway through this video

[@elleliteracy]

ughhhhhh we can never escape

[@justinecoman5448]

Same lol, that was the diet cherry on top

[@beccaguihan5037]

i got two novo nordisk ads and the weight loss app ad😭

[@abigaelrarts2257]

@@elleliteracyone benefit of going youtube premium is not getting CONSTANT weight loss ads shoved in my face, especially when I'm happy with my weight. I'm sure it's only because my profile says female

[@yuordreams]

​@@abigaelrarts2257 I wondered that too. Back when I was in my ✨Eating Disorder Days✨ this ad constantly haunted me where a man in a lab coat loudly began by saying "YOU'RE FAT!" and it killllled meee. I wondered why my partner, who lives in the same space as me and consumes a lot of the same media, didn't get those ads.

[@suki9268]

Since 2020 I lost 100lbs and let me tell you, I don't really blame people for using that drug to lose weight. I am treated like whole new person now because of how much weight I lost. When I see those who were never fat before comment negatively about fat people it stings because I was once in that position. If my teenage self could get a hold of that drug at the expense of my health i would take it. I don't wish that type of discrimination, loneliness, harassment, bullying onto anyone. I just wish fat people were treated like worthy humans as they already are. Makes me sad tbh

[@weirdallieyankovic]

YES! As someone with lots of issues (arthritis since age 6, PCOS, type 2 diabetes), this is literally a wonder drug. I did every diet, worked out until I hurt myself, and cut calories all the time in high school and college and only ever lost 10 pounds. I used Wegovy last year and the food chatter in my head ceased. I had to stop after a few months as I wasn’t diagnosed with diabetes at that point, but I still have a better relationship with food now! My insurance approved a GLP-1 for me after my diabetes diagnosis, so I’m hoping I can start again soon! People don’t realize how this drug is so helpful for some people. I will say, though, that my dad took Mounjaro for 6-8 months consecutively and did a slow build to higher dosages (which should be the norm but it seems some doctors and nurse practitioners aren’t always believers of this). BUT he was switched to 10 after being on 7.5 for just a month and it made him violently ill. He already had a kidney stone he was dealing with, and the med seemed to exacerbate anything slightly off in his body. Blood tests showed his pancreas and liver enzymes were out of wack in the same way they would appear in someone with pancreatitis, or worse, pancreatic cancer. A month after that blood work was done, he had more tests and they all showed decreased levels of those hormones. What changed? He stopped the Mounjaro. I do think there’s a certain point where people need to get off the drug cold turkey or taper off. My dad is at his goal weight now and still has the eating habits he gained during the time he used Mounjaro.

[@gabriellegarthe1034]

It’s no one’s fault for not being attracted to fat people. And people are naturally kinder to people they’re attracted to. You’re correct that obese people deserve kindness, but it’s not strangers fault for not talking to someone they’re not attracted to. And not even “attracted” as in “want to date” just natural human attraction. I like a lot of obese people, I don’t like their lifestyle and food choices but I still like them.

[@sugma148]

@@gabriellegarthe1034lol you act like fat people can’t be loved/haven’t had children or been married.

[@suki9268]

@gabriellegarthe1034 I didn't mention anything about attraction. I was talking about being treated with decent humanity and respect. I don't care if someone finds me attractive but I do care when serious issues and concerns are brushed off as a "lifestyle" and to "get over it". If your basis of giving someone basic respect and kindness is wanting to fuck them, that's a pretty gross way of viewing general people. There's plenty of people I find unattractive and yes, I still treat them with kindness because they deserve basic humanity. Did you miss the part where I mentioned being harassed, bullied, isolated, discriminated and gaslit? No, because you only thought my issue was I wasn't "attractive". Please realize these issues require empathy and actual perspective. Being condescending and judgemental further perpetuates the issues by automatically dismissing them as an "us" problem...

[@phi1105]

As a bigger girl, watching the world go absolutely bat shit over a drug like ozempic just confirms my belief that we are in a new Era of "Thin is in" beliefs. Legging Legs, body checking disguised in a person's "What I eat in a day", the glorification of eating disorders, all because people are terrified to look like me. I'm not talking about the health, I'm talking about the society. I lost 50 pounds, and while I'm happy for myself people still say "how much farther till your goal?" And go wide eyed when I say my body goals aren't for weight loss, but strength. Thin is beauty in today's eyes, and drugs like Ozempic only prove that notion. Not to mention plus size fashion. Oh, do not get me STARTED on the modeling industry and their views on big bodies.

[@pinktlrb]

Something that totally changed how I think about exercise and weight is realizing that nowhere in the US is designed to be walkable. Cars are *always* prioritized. If you have to drive everywhere, you don't benefit from the incidental exercise that comes with walking places. It's so much harder to stay fit when you have to constantly go out of your way to do so. And even then, you might end up having to *drive somewhere else* to do so. It just sucks all-around. I wish the US wasn't dealing with batshit crazy assholes threatening to send us back to the stone age so we could focus on pressuring the government to actually solve problems like this.

[@ratgurl1]

i agree 1000%. its especially unattainable to low-income folks who need to be working multiple jobs or taking care of children instead of spending time and money on a gym membership. and with food deserts, the travel time and expense for fresh produce makes it even harder. it’s a super intersectional issue that i wish we could actually tackle instead of begging for rights we had 5 years ago…

[@helenr4300]

In the UK new developments lean that way, big supermarkets with parking didn't fit into old high streets, and the customers followed, a lot of town centres have closed shops and so even less people go. Meanwhile public transport to the supermarkets is usually not an option. My parents are finding this now dad has had to stop driving. Those in new housing developments are harder done by, as the older communities can still have small 'convenience' shops. Pricer compared to the supermarket and limited range, both due to size, but walkable. Though these are economically vulnerable and many, forced to close.

[@hayleygrace9137]

@@ratgurl1 People do not talk enough about the huge problem of food deserts that effect both urban and rural areas. In many places the only way to get groceries without walking miles is at a gas station or dollar general (which is a whole other beast). Basically, like everything we punish poor people for not having the access rich people have.

[@wednesdayschild3627]

Best comment. I think car exhaust, plastic in good and sugar cause heart disease.

[@MegaBossmare]

@@helenr4300how sad

[@BrynnaLayne]

As someone whose mom is on one of these, as the person who has watched her hate herself and struggle to be smaller her entire life, she has lost 50 pounds and STILL HATES HERSELF. She is a naturally curvy woman and now feels so small. And she still picks herself apart and says she feels huge. I'm currently pregnant with a girl and I refuse to pass this mentality and hatred onto her.

[@Eloridas]

Real body-positivity or better body-neutrality isnt about weight, its about accepting your current bodystate in its current form, not to never change it, but for realy loving your self.

[@ashbieri]

Same with me, my mom is curvy, big hips, thighs and butt and I inherited her body, basically down to every detail. Idk if she has ever loved herself a day in her life, every now and then she starts a diet. It hurts to see her getting into her 50’s still with this mentality

[@lateformyownbirth]

My mum didn’t struggle to be smaller her whole life. So when she fell from low blood pressure, she couldn’t pick herself up. I couldn’t pick her up. Two paramedics couldn’t pick her up. They had to use a blow up contraption to get her back to her feet.

[@BrynnaLayne]

@@lateformyownbirth I'm sorry you went through this. It's really difficult to watch your parent struggle through things like this.

[@cassieshoemaker4733]

Literally same - my baby is one and I've had this conversation with my mom multiple times. When she starts to critique herself I remind her not to say that in front of my daughter. I dont care how young she is.

[@elliotsangestevez]

thank you for covering this elle, the abuse of drugs for weight loss purposes is a sign of a deeply broken societal ideology of beauty and health

[@elleliteracy]

thanks elliot 🫶 appreciate it!!!!

[@WonderfulWorldofAwesomeness]

@@BoringTroublemaker Exactly. Well said. Elle Literacy thinks she’s being body positive with this video, but she’s actually fat shaming people and trying to get others to pile on hatred towards us for being concerned with our health and doing something positive for ourselves.

[@harriyanna]

let me tell you.....this situation hit me even HARDER about why we should not idolize celebrities. as someone who late mother was diabetic, this situation makes me a different kind of frustrated.

[@Okklol529]

God Loves You❤️🙏✝️

[@evedove4759]

As a fat person with a history of eating disorders, I've sometimes found myself secretly wishing I could be on ozempic. And I feel a lot of shame for that. Does anyone else get this feeling?

[@bro.that.is.adorable.2633]

It's normal to see something work (at least aesthetically) for other people and want what they have while knowing you don't want to actually do it

[@whattheflameo]

I do too, I finally started regularly eating at least two meals a day for the first time in like ten years and then the ozempic thing started up. My parents take it for diabetes reasons and they have such a hard time getting their prescriptions filled that I feel extra guilty for wanting to take it because if I did take it then I’d be one of the people making it hard for them to get their medicine. Like I’ve just started to eat like a normal person for the first time since elementary school and now idk if me thinking about wanting to try it is a genuine desire of wanting to be a healthier weight or the same bs that had me eating only half an apple most days in high school.

[@paxxypaxx]

that is fairly common im sure, im also a fat person who still struggles with disordered eating and ill see something for weight loss and even if i KNOW it will not help me and it will simply hurt me and my mind will STILL want it. its your brain working against your body because of your disorder. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, you NOT doing it shows how you are working on healing from your disordered eating habits

[@april4524]

completely understand especially bc now my doctor wants me on it. i’m at a constant feeling of do i want it or is this my eating disorder talking

[@Zzz-ff1np]

Ooh was definitely there. Then I had the opportunity to go on it for free. And that was the first time I knew what it was like to never be hungry and eat portions a dietician would find problematic. Then a month or 2 in the skinny dream died with continous aggressive digestive and other issues that couldn't be caused by anything else. I still miss those first few weeks sometimes.

[@merefinl6914]

I would love for our culture to have more conversations about fatphobia. My mom and grandmother have always been consumed by diet culture and body shaming. Now that I've become an independent adult, I've made body acceptance an important part of 'growing up' to counteract that stigma. I've always been a thin person, but my adult body is naturally fatter than my teenage body. Accepting that takes a lot of work when we praise youth and thinness so much. I grew up knowing everything my mom and grandmother hated about their bodies, and now I'm developing those same features. When people who share your DNA hate the way they look, reclaiming those features as even just ok feels like radical acceptance.

[@elkeshultz4496]

You've worded this so well. It's exactly what I'm feeling. My adult female body has a lot more cushion, it looks starkly like my mother's. She also spent my whole childhood tearing herself apart. Thank you for your beautiful brain and your, your mom's, and your grandma's beautiful bodies!

[@merefinl6914]

@@elkeshultz4496 Remembering that our bodies were never a problem thousands of years ago helps cut through the beauty standard noise! Fat still helps people weather illness and stress better than thinness does. It's great to have soft parts 💛

[@autumnblaze6267]

body positivity/neutrality, fat acceptance etc. are definitely a thing in some circles, I agree that it should be more widespread I know I'll sound terribly tribalist (I mean political tribalism), but it seems like the humanity has split into two extreme polarities: the empathetic people who actively try to make the world a better nicer kinder place for everyone (no one's perfect and there are internal debates/arguments, but we can agree that we all care and try our best) AND the people who just don't care, they want the things to stay the way they are cos they consider the status quo great cos they think it's beneficial to them (it may be so to an extent, they're higher in the social hierarchy, but I think absolutely everyone would benefit from a kind equal world, some are just not aware and afraid of losing their privilege - well, everyone besides the few who are rotten to the core and actually enjoy the suffering in the world) this radical split means you either end up preaching to the choir (e.g. I was recently at a lecture about inclusive language and everyone attending was already knowledgeable about it, most were trans, non-binary, very strongly feminist women etc. - the people who should attend it because they don't know these things didn't attend because they don't care) OR talking to a wall (the alpha/sigma male Andrew Tate crew just won't listen at all, their facade of irony, mockery, illusion of "strength" etc. won't budge) it all starts with caring: once you have people who care, they'll listen, learn and become better but how do you get someone to care… the toxic crowd will just joke about "landwhales", concern-troll about health issues (because the extreme diet culture doesn't lead to people hurting themselves /s), go all boomer about "these darn kids are just too lazy, they only want to sit on their phones and talk about pronouns! back in my day we starved ourselves and stoned the overweight people along with all the 'queers' and we turned out fine! " etc. I wish I knew, I really really wish, I really just don't know how to break the wall of ignorance: I've tried with kindness, I've tried to use their language (real men do X, X means you're strong, don't be a wuss and let society tell you that X), I was patient and understanding, I was harsh and trying to shake them into waking up - nothing works, you need a degree to talk to the "status quo is great" people… I'm sooo burned out…

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Fatphobia is a slippery slope it goes from the awesome 'I'm just trying to accept myself and feel great in my body' all the way to the quite toxically obnoxious, 'how dare my own weight make life difficult for me, I demand everyone pander to my largess.' Fatphobia has gone to a insane degree on tiktok, be careful not to slide down that slippery slope. There's a big difference between trying to accept and love yourself versus The Bullying they do to 'the thins' and trying to justify an 8000 calorie diet. Michelle McDaniel does a great exposé on the harmfulness of extreme, toxic fatphobia. When a fat phobia activist dies of a heart attack in her 30s, you to think that would be a wake-up call to the "community"!

[@theabnormalsquid]

I’m in exactly the same situation. And it’s still a daily struggle to combat the negative intrusive thoughts. I love the idea of this as radical ❤

[@emese_p]

On the comment of the accessibility/price: in Europe, Ozempic is around 100 USD in every country without prescription. We almost all have free healthcare in Europe and with prescription/reduced price for diabetes, PCOS, etc it is usually 70% of this price (full price 99 USD in Hungary, and 29 USD prescribed per month). Still not really cheap (in Hungary, the cheap prescribed meds are all around 0,5-1 USD per month), but way affordable than in the US. Of course Big Pharma is not something to speak kindly of but still...the meds/health related prices in the US is absolutely crazy.

[@asuka_the_void_witch]

america is an outlier in almost all aspects of politics, it's wild. the bastion of militarism and capitalism.

[@sarahwatts7152]

Totally agree on this one. As an American who did some travelling in Europe, it was always crazy to talk to other travelers in hostels about healthcare and education. It's so normalized here to pay for these things - and in the amounts that we pay for them - but it really isn't reasonable

[@celinedion3929]

Source?

[@RoyalBeach_]

I pay $220 USD in Canada for a 1mg Ozempic pen

[@viktoriaonderkova6475]

​@@celinedion3929 Being European, living here and knowing how it works? If you need some sources, google them. That shouldn't be hard. If you can't google European pharmacy websites, just use a VPN

[@peasandmashedpotatoes6246]

I think it’s really important to mention that weight cycling is a huge problem *because* most people aren’t taught about nutrition, and because processed food is specifically designed to make you addicted to it. It’s sad when people focus on that because it makes them think that they *cant* lose weight. and the reality is that the cards are just stacked so far against us :(

[@Eloridas]

When i lost weight learning more about nutrition was the third thing i did and id should haven been the first or second one. I dont get, why people who try to lose weight, dont get intro nutrition.

[@chelsey8737]

I joined track my freshman year of high school and lost a ton of weight which was exacerbated by financial problems at home which meant that I wasn't eating enough. I've never gotten so many compliments on my looks as I did that year and for a few months following the end of the track season and most of them came from my aunt and grandmother. It fueled my poor eating because even when I did have access to enough food, I wouldn't eat it so that I could continue getting the compliments. Now that I don't play an organized sport and have gained weight, I dont get any compliments at all on my body or looks. Its a mindfuck, esp for young teen girls who, like me, have grown up with female relatives who yo-yo diet still to this day.

[@comraderieco]

Similar. I graduated and had a crappy job. So many compliments, little did they know i was literally starving! Not sure they wouldve cared anyways, bc i looked "good'

[@laylahassomethingtosay]

The idea of a pharmaceutical being "trendy" is bizarre on its own. And like we often see it with people rapping about benzos and opioids, but at least they're not pretending they're good for you. It's so blatantly dystopian that my biggest concern lies within the minds of the influencers pushing it. Is it really just another product to them? Do they truly not see an issue? What type of life and worldview must you have to not even bat an eye at this?

[@tarzanizcool]

Wait till you find out about penicillin

[@glindaroni99]

wonderful video elle, very well put together! on a serious note, it’s terrifying how deeply engrained fatphobia and fat shaming are in our society. i’m not sure if this is just me, but when i see an instagram reel of someone’s “what i eat in a day” and they’re fat, i’m terrified to check the comments. they could be eating 10x better/more nutrient dense than the average person & 60% of the comment section would still be people treating them like they’re not human i have to think that it’s biased, because that’s the only way i can keep from losing all faith

[@roxassora2706]

Exactly. I know those videos could be faked, but damn. Especially fat women.

[@angels2370]

YES!!! I see thin people post themselves at all you can eat buffets or filling their entire day with unhealthy fried food and all the comments are insanely positive

[@_swesters_]

I've seen videos completely unrelated, just a fat person existing, even just THEIR HANDS and the comments are just some of the worst I've seen. Ever.

[@annemariecretyknudsen7201]

As someone who comes from Denmark and was raised in a town, where pretty much everyone was a novo nordisk employee (and the company really owns the town) it is crazy to see how much power Novo Nordisk has, not just in my town or Denmark but really in the world

[@Seagullsaredope]

Me too. I live in denmark and have a parent who works there. I didn't know it had spread so globally

[@mimoza1989]

I'm a part of the design team for the new Novo Nordisk building in Denmark. I've seen your town on Google maps and I can honestly say - you are not exaggerating! The walk from the parking lot to the building is 1.5 km in the worst case...

[@teijaflink2226]

It's kind of scary honestly. I hope at least some of that money has gone to the people in Denmark, like jobs and things like that. But it's scary that with their power they probably can affect politics.

[@chantebrand1581]

God I would give ANYTHING to live in a world without diet culture and plastic surgery. I don’t think that world ever existed but the idea of being able to completely let go of the obsession with self sounds amazing and everyone would be happier.

[@grigorirasputin4871]

How does it bother you that other people go on diets and get plastic surgery? Live and let live.

[@mistys256]

⁠@@grigorirasputin4871because that’s all people care about. Everywhere you look, everyone’s so superficial that deep connections and actual important things don’t exist. It affects everyone because it’s all society cares about and prioritizes. We have wars going on but “ohh Kylie just dropped this new skincare line”. Be open minded and look at the bigger picture. Everyone’s programmed to the point shits getting worst because they’re distracting us by profiting off peoples insecurities or making us think that because we have some sort of freedom that we’re the “best” country while they continually fuck us

[@mistys256]

@@grigorirasputin4871how does it not

[@thatblerdoverthereb9654]

Its such a complex issue, you touched on it towards the end, but our food system in the US sucks. The real question is why is there so many people suffering from PCOS, thyroid issues, and T2D. I believe Ozempic is a "miracle drug" for many, but its a solution to a lifestyle problem. And this isn't on any individual, we're all trying to survive and hopefully thrive, but its so difficult with the standard American diet.

[@flux.aeterna]

And what’s at the root of all that? *C A P I T A L I S M*

[@NANA-su5ql]

I’m not sure it’s just that Americans have an insane amount of people with these problems, it’s just infinitely more normalized to talk about them within the US. Go any other country and people are way more hush hush.

[@nbcommiedyke]

we have to be careful with food system critiques. even if we all had "perfect food" there would still be fat people and health issues would still happen. no too mention it's not just good that causes these issues. something that is ignored (aided by the hyperfocus on food) is the environment. hormone disrupters, toxins that cause cancer and heart disease are all in our food, but also our water, air, soil, every cosmetic and cleaning product, the paint on our walls, our clothes, even children's toys! all of those combined go far beyond a twinkie lol.

[@WonderfulWorldofAwesomeness]

So “just have willpower” bro. Got it. More moralizing and shaming.

[@WonderfulWorldofAwesomeness]

@@NANA-su5qlVery true. And America isn’t even the country with the highest number (per capita) of obese people. There are entire Polynesian islands where staggering amounts of people are obese. Also the country with the highest population of Diabetics is China. We can’t even blame wealth and western diets for that one, as they mostly eat rice as an entire country - a high carb diet. And no, it’s not “Americanized” rice.

[@CharlieApples]

I’m an intersex person (XXY) who has had wild hormone fluctuations at different points in my life and *hormones directly affect your weight.* Estrogen makes you fat, testosterone makes you muscular, and muscle burns fat for fuel. That’s obviously a very simplified version of things, but as a general rule, people with high levels of estrogen tend to gain fat and keep it far more than people with high testosterone-though it varies a LOT from individual to individual. I’m very much convinced that fat phobia is primarily rooted in misogyny + ageism, because women _naturally_ gain weight more efficiently than men. They evolved to do so, because a woman with extra fat reserves is more likely to survive pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. As well as famine, which grants the local population a better chance at repopulating later on. One man can get a lot of women pregnant, so men really didn’t evolve to maximize their survival chances, they evolved to maximize brute strength, high energy and aggression. Men are evolutionarily speaking, humanity’s cannon fodder, while women are humanity’s apocalypse survival plan. Courtesy Mother Nature. We hate women for being fat, despite the fact that breasts and hips and butts _are all made out of fat._ It’s just a way of punishing women for not looking 13 years old anymore, in my brutally honest opinion. And that’s a whole other can of worms.

[@user-wg2sb1dw7c]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@strawberrykun6136]

This is such an interesting way to look at it! Love that

[@FoxInTheStudio]

To add to the hormone talk, I have thyroid issues so a lot of excess sex hormones of all types. If I gain weight, testosterone gets stored in fat and oestrogen becomes dominant, which then becomes a double whammy of continuous weight gain, as well as bringing back my periods if they stopped. But, as soon as I lose weight, that testosterone in released, I gain muscle much easier, and weight loss becomes faster and faster at the cost of my menstrual cycle until I even put. Hormone feedback loops are wild

[@andreahighsides7756]

Trans woman here, was very into lifting weights pre transition as a teenager and now have been on estrogen for 7 years. I hard disagree with your take.

[@FoxInTheStudio]

@@andreahighsides7756 Everyone's body is different. I'm not certain what part of whose take you disagree with but I gave only my own observations about my own body. There's no take in my comment at least, only what I have noticed as a woman with a dysregulated system due to health issues~

[@LittleMissDeeDee]

I find it interesting how people will constantly judge and shame those that are overweight and obese, but then also shame them for seeking medical help. If obesity is classified as a disease, then there should be an option to take a drug to aid with weight loss, whether that be ozempic or something else.

[@bianca3651]

people hate fat people so much that they want them to suffer. they don't deserve to change, it's a lose or lose situation

[@egroover9449]

Speaking of medications we don’t fully understand the long term effects of, I feel like we don’t talk enough about how female birth control affects the weight conversation

[@lowrodrigo47]

YES and its other side effects.

[@charliepaige196]

Safe space right? When I weighed my heaviest a few years ago- it wasn’t that I felt fat or ugly or unwanted, but I felt like SHIT all the time. Had a harder time with my depression, exercise was harder, and my energy levels were super low. I decided to change the way I eat and that lead to me losing some weight. I weigh about 145-150 (I am about 5’3) now and I’m super happy! I’m not obsessed with fitness but adjusting my diet helped so much with my mood. I did not “diet” I just simply stopped drinking soda regularly, I eat fruits or veggies with every meal, and I try to get exercise 3 times a week. It’s not about temporary fix, but long term solutions. Enjoy your body the way you want to❤️

[@missmelissa1989]

Ozempic has helped me a lot with weight loss associated with PCOS. I’m sick of the media coverage on it.

[@missplatypus]

I just started it for the same reason and I have barely told anyone because people have such strong opinions about it. 😭

[@oogleoo]

I was on Trulicity (which is similar) for a while for PCOS weight gain, but due to mental health issues i gained a lot of that weight back. Now that my mental health is stabilizing i am going to ask my doctor about Trulicity or Ozempic because i *need* the help, but im so worried about this stigma now

[@RoyalBeach_]

Same, after my 5th baby I felt like I could not lose and have lost 80lbs since May 2023. We also have the same first name

[@lilykincaid1178]

I’m really happy you’ve started on a medication that’s helping you in your health journey! It’s a hot button issue unfortunately, but if it’s helping your body with minimal side effects, then I’m applauding!

[@Star_sweeper]

I’m a type 1 diabetic who has paid way too much money to Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. They do not need any more of our money!

[@jennyknopps1291]

Not to mention Beyer, Abbott, Medtronic, and Nestlé via their glucose monitors.

[@lowrodrigo47]

I hope you are well. Which drugs have you tried if you don't mind me asking?

[@Robiness]

​@@jennyknopps1291 Nestlé is making glucose monitors?? That's low-key dystopian...

[@jennyknopps1291]

@@Robiness yeah under the OneTouch brand.

[@raquetball]

Banting sold insulin to eli lilly for A DOLLAR.

[@magventures]

7:42 leave the teletubbies outta this 🫠💀

[@roxannewoodham1429]

It’s a HUGE problem when the people that ACTUALLY need it can’t get it bc everyone and their mother is getting it simply for vanity.

[@rl3810]

I was at my cardiologist yesterday (feeling very young amongst the 60 plus year olds) for a recent heart murmur I've developed. I started talking t a man who was also waiting for his appointment. An Ozempic commercial came on the waiting room TV. He told me his Dr's want him on it for his uncontrolled diabetes, but there is no supply for him. That made me sad as I've heard it actually works for people with Type 2 diabetes. Who actually needs it for diabetes. It's sad how far we've fallen that we need to steal from the sick for a shallow "perfect" body. It's all so gross to me.

[@Dannypopso]

There’s more than one drug for T2DM..just saying

[@AGoofyJester]

@@Dannypopsothe man was *prescribed* the drug. Of course he would do his best to try to buy it

[@infinitedreaming222]

How can anyone steal when the manufacturer had rearranged their focus to wegovy… you put it on society but it’s really the drug company that focused less on diabetics and more towards weight loss. I can tell you’re not reading

[@sofiaaa1358]

kinda off topic, but the research? the visuals? the tone? your video essays are literally one of the best ones out there, i love them so much

[@elleliteracy]

thank you!! i appreciate that 🫶

[@WonderfulWorldofAwesomeness]

I am on Ozempic for obesity. I have a family history of diabetes, and my brother is on a GLP-1. I have zero shame about taking this medication. I am having joint issues, mobility issues, and this extra weight is negatively affecting my life to the point where it’s about improving my health and life, not about how I look. One thing I do worry about is that, with the preponderance of these medications, will be it be seen as a choice for people to be obese? Will people who don’t use Ozempic be shamed for it?

[@elleliteracy]

those are such good questions!! thanks for your comment, I hope the drug is working well for you!

[@WonderfulWorldofAwesomeness]

@@elleliteracy It is working well for me. I’ve lost 10 lbs so far. I have been on many diet programs before, which made me feel like I was starving myself. I don’t feel that way on this. I trust my doctor, he’s about wellness, not quick fixes, and he said these medications are very much better than going ahead and getting diabetes. He also made me see a dietician for a whole lifestyle change so that when I am at a healthy weight I can go off. In the past, a few years back, when I went to him asking for help losing weight he got this glazed look on his face as if he knew he could put me on a diet, but I would not have success. This time he was very excited when I asked to be put on the same medication that changed my brothers life. I already feel like I have more energy, and that my joints hurt less. Although this may be the euphoria I feel knowing that I finally have hope.

[@timefortaya1]

I think doctors get off the hook for these drug crazes too easily. Who is prescribing the drug for people with off label needs? They enable these shortages and unnecessary consumption too.

[@BoringTroublemaker]

Drug in shortage are easily found in a searchable database on the FDA website. Ozempic is not in shortage. Almost every dose of Wegovy is in shortage and has been for more than a year and is so impossible to find that pharmacists will laugh in your face if you try to fill it. Every dose strength of Ozempic is and has been fully available for at least 6+ months.

[@expensivepink7]

everyone saying ozempic face when it's just weight loss face is amazing

[@monkfruit2389]

I feel like it's more of a Fast weight loss face. Plus dead eyes. which are more likely of an ozempic weight loss.. imo

[@Birgitta123]

I agree.Drastic and fast weight loss did that to my face years ago when i was almost starving myself and reached 50 kg at 170 cm height. I gained weight and fixed it though!

[@expensivepink7]

@@monkfruit2389 yes exactly it’s just extreme weight loss! not inherently cuz of ozempic and ppl r only losing on ozempic cuz fewer calories in! idk why this isn’t explicitly stated in so much content covering it!

[@expensivepink7]

@@Birgitta123 YES u get it!! it’s just the effects of weight loss i find it weird when ppl make content on ozempic they fail to mention ppl r only losing cuz they’re in a major deficit so the effects will be similar visually whether ur rapidly losing on the drug or not!!

[@expensivepink7]

@@Birgitta123 i’m so glad you’re doing better too🫶🏻✨💖

[@bdink2605]

As someone who needs Ozempic for my diabetes and more I can get it or any of thethe alternatives, I’m going let the video fuel my rage 😡

[@MiniMeady18]

i too need ozempic for my diabetes and seeing all these celebrities and people wanting it when they don't need it is really fucking disgusting

[@Ausgar-yc1yl]

Why not try one of the other drugs instead of Ozempic?

[@MiniMeady18]

@@Ausgar-yc1yl because i’m not prescribed other drugs by my doctors. i’m prescribed ozempic

[@moonymonster]

​@@Ausgar-yc1ylthat's a discussion for their doctors, not youtube...

[@Ausgar-yc1yl]

@@moonymonster What is your problem?

[@kirax7293]

Laughed out LOUD in a diner when she did the danish accent😂

[@hookedonlove5821]

Coming from a curvy girl WITHOUT diabetes, I wouldn’t take this. I love my body and as I’m noticing “thin” is coming back (like it was in the 90s) I NEVER want my kids to see their mama shaming myself for being exactly how God made me. I’m healthy and I’m happy and that’s all that matters.

[@LonelyLoner_]

America spent 30 billion dollars on weight loss in 2022. McDonald’s alone in the same year made 23 billion and had a near 10% increase in 2023

[@isabella0903]

It's extremely disappointing that side effects from the use are under discussed by prescribers. Its one of the most important things that anyone can be informed about before taking a medication. The person NEEDS to be able to weigh the possible risks against the benefits themselves. It is a very well known side effect that some people experience mild to severe gastrointestinal issues. It is something that people need to be warned about, as well as told as to what to do if the symptoms do not improve or worsen.

[@caillieb540]

As a recently ex-fat person, i'm really struggling to find my way in the world now. It has made me so very aware of how blatantly people (even people I love!) were fatphobic towards me -- which is very deep and dehumanizing kind of hurt that I think Tracy Cox did a wonderful job unpacking. But! Hearing your sentiments and sources in this vid made me feel like somebody was hugging the fat girl that's still lives inside me, because there was nothing ever wrong w her. I'm still the same person w the same thoughts and feelings, just like everybody else! Just wish I could've heard these words sooner. v glad such well-informed and empathetic ppl like you exist on this earth, so much thanks again :)

[@EbonyHoopGyal]

There are lots of near death health conditions people can develop from being underweight. Why this is being consistently touted as the ideal behooves me. I recently began to revive from anorexia and the shame and bullying blows my mind. But there is not one single human who will ever make me go back to being that sick. It was a hell.

[@thegalmalpal9908]

As someone in pharmacy school and has worked as a tech for years, it's HEARTBREAKING to have to look into patient's eyes, some who are very low income, EVERY DAY and tell them I can't give them their medication. Or even worse, I have to tell a retiree on a fixed income that their medicare plan wants $400 a month for these medications. These medications are genuinely fantastic for people with diabetes and insulin resistance, and it breaks my heart that big pharma is taking advantage of these people.

[@HolldollMcG]

As a type 1 diabetic who is dependant on insulin and who's insulin sometimes costs more than my mortgage (hence why I've been rationing for years) I for one have a personal vendetta against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. This may not have much to do with Ozempic and T2D, but the companies that tell us fat ≠ bad are the same ones who have long hid my and many others' health behind a paywall. So yeah, I'ma bitch about it.

[@taypiper4534]

I got diagnosed with PCOS and got on birth control- which very much affects your weight/insulin. My mom has it as well- and she talked about how she used to take a diabetic medication called metformin and said it technically could help with weight but isn’t a cure all and it was strong. I’ve been in ED recovery for a while- and the PCOS diagnosis and birth control definitely driven up my past ED habits and I was DETERMINED to get metformin. At my next appointment, I brought it up with the doctor, but they appeared hesitant. I was really really lucky that despite my pcos developing: my weight/ insulin wasn’t at the point where diabetes medication was necessary. Once my mom saw my true intention of wanting to take it to be thin instead of worrying about my health- she pulled me aside and said how awful it was to take it and how straight up diabolical the stomach issues were, and told me how it’s NOT worth it at all unless it’s necessary for your insulin resistance. To my PCOS friends out there: unless a health professional tells you- or you’re having issues with your blood sugar, insulin, physical health, etc- don’t go for the Ozenpic if it isn’t needed. Don’t go for the metformin. Your well-being is way more important than how your body looks. I know it’s so hard in a society like this- but we got this!! give the love and care your body deserves ❤❤❤

[@lowrodrigo47]

Crazy. Metformin is marketed as a miracle drug. I've heard people say it is anti aging off label. So suspect...

[@papernotes1499]

Metformin is commonly taken for diabetes to lower blood sugar

[@fz3692]

Metformin doesn’t always have negative side effects though? Stomach issues are only present in around 1/3rd of people who take it. It’s important to be aware of that when starting, but I personally haven’t experienced them and only had mild side effects for about a week after each dosage increase. Metformin has genuinely increased my quality of life so much since starting (with PCOS and insulin resistance but no diabetes/prediabetes) and I’m tired of the fearmongering surrounding it. It’s much less intense than GLP-1 medications, extremely cheap, and had been around for over 50 years (and extremely well-studied).

[@infinitedreaming222]

@@fz3692 forgot to mention that it has a black box label. Funny how this is an actual medication for diabetics not a PEPTIDE and y’all don’t shame people for using it

[@ellebee4112]

This is such an interesting topic, and how we treat fat vs thin people altogether. As someone who has struggled for years with an eating disorder it’s really interesting to me. I’ve been underweight for a long time. I’ve been really unhealthy but when I was losing the most weight, you wouldn’t believe how many people would say to me how great and skinny I looked! I was pale and drawn and couldn’t handle a small few stairs without gasping for breath and yet people never said anything. Then you have someone like Lizzo, who is so amazing, those long shows she does night after night where she is sooo active and using all the energy and still not even winded and people have the cheek to tell her she’s not healthy but someone like myself who can’t climb a few steps is supposed to be the healthier one?! At my thinnest, if I had no make up on, people would say oh you don’t look well, you’ve lost too much weight, you look scary. However, I could see them a few weeks later with some fake tan and a full face of make up and dressed well and they would say oh you look so much better I’m so glad you’ve put on some weight I was worried about you! So it’s not actually about being too thin. There is no ‘too thin’ for most people! As long as you can manage to look presentable. My hair all fell out and hadn’t had a period in over 5 years but still I was considered to be ‘healthier’ than a fat person. Ridiculous! We just shouldn’t comment on people’s weight in general. I never appreciated it if was a healthy weight or not. Now that I’ve put on some weight and am a bit healthier, people tell me I look so much healthier but that’s so triggering for me. I wish they wouldn’t say anything. It makes me want to lost weight again. If it’s a battle for me constantly with only small comments here and there, I can’t imagine what it must be like for someone who is fat. What gives us the right to determine what looks ‘healthy’.?!

[@radishfest]

God. Yeah. I literally just want to be able to maintain a weight that isn't harming me. Most doctors tune me out when I bring it up or tell me I'm lucky... for being able to eat extra ice cream... like excuse me. what. I feel too nauseous from stress and pain to eat often. I just explained this. That is the main problem. And the fainting-- What-- No I can't take SSRIs, look at my chart-- Yes I am on birth control-- no it does not help! That's why I'm here! I spent weeks in the hospital in 2023, going from (no mobility + liver failure) to (ambulatory + healthy weight + organs working) felt SO incredible. Like having a fresh battery. Losing that weight and freedom has been... a lot. I wish metabolism and mental health mattered more to GPs. I cannot believe how many of them have harmful, backwards attitudes. They're so hurtful to patients, and for what?

[@sofia_c_1]

I would like to add that in a global scale the US is like the peak (recently as in last hundred and something years or so) of accumulated wealth. So like the fact that sooooo many people can afford a drug that's worth literally thousands of dollars at all is like a reaaaally big marker of another type of unequity on an even larger scale... the whole ass world. Basically.

[@yemapaez6153]

Yes! And also, shows that when a wealthy culture has frivolous money to spend, we grasp onto unnecessary problems to fix (ie. plastic surgery’s) with the wealth we have accumulated instead of basic health needs like the rest of the world.

[@lluviamin341]

This video is actually genuinely so well researched!! Your take was so holistic and nuanced you considered everything from the history of weight loss, fat phobia, public perception of weight-loss, celebrity impact, the industry, etc!! Thank you so much for being diligent in your analysis and admitting you might not be the best person to educate us on the topic. I think you did a wonderful job :)

[@asuka_the_void_witch]

i remember tring an OTC supplement for depression and it killed my appetite. i remember buying a burger one time and after eating half of it i just couldnt finish the rest. it was impossible, like swallowing almost didnt work anymore. i was the absolute inverse of hungry at that point. i had to stop taking that supplement, but its interesting... a lot of people could just take this supplement instead.... it actually did make my happier too.

[@ItBeThatWaySometimes]

What was the OTC supplement

[@NANA-su5ql]

An unintended side effect is different from what Ozempic does. Ozempic specifically makes your body produce more of a chemical that slows down how fast food travels through your digestive tract.

[@asuka_the_void_witch]

@@NANA-su5ql my point being that it would be a better choice than ozempic

[@asuka_the_void_witch]

@@ItBeThatWaySometimes IIRC it was 5HTP. sounds like a psychedelic lol but its not

[@NANA-su5ql]

@@asuka_the_void_witch Not if there isn't any provable research on it. I could say right now that taking meletonin cured someone's cancer, doesn't mean they're correlated or better than chemo, reguardless of the side effects chemo has in contrast.

[@sstjohn96]

I used to work at a middle school, and one of my students was put on Ozempic at 12. She was really excited to be on it, but was talking about how sick she felt. She was already severely struggling with her mental health. It just broke my heart. I always think of her and hope she's doing ok

[@steelplatedheart]

as a diabetic on ozempic, this whole media circus has been incredibly frustrating. It's a goddamn miracle drug, it took all of three weeks for my numbers to fall under normal levels (not normal for diabetics. Normal!!), and it's helping dramatically with my liver disease too. This drug is literally saving my life. I know someone else who wasn't able to get it prescribed due to the shortage and now they're having to deal with diabetic retinopathy, the diabetes complication that makes you go blind. The fact that an actual shortage of a life-saving drug is being used to fuel this fatphobic craze makes me feel sick. I hope their patent expires.

[@catherinerondel4569]

I just finished watching both Dopesick & Painkiller, and i REALLY appreciate that you came at the topic considering the impact of big pharma. The opiod epidemic was wild, and we really need to learn from that and not let it ever happen again.

[@tikimillie]

Im on the wegovy version, and so far its helping me. It can have severe side effects for some people though and you should NEVER use it for a quick fix. Im loosing a kilo a week more or less, and im hoping to transition into more natural weightloss methods once i reach a 100 kilos. Im not gonna go full skinny tho, i do think a little chonk is cute, but i’d like to be able to move without being in pain and have a generally better quality of life. Im using a third of my monthly budget on the price though, so its definately some kind of dedication. I’m sorry for anyone who have suffered as a result of ozempic or wegovy though. Im danish though, so maybe the danish stuff is secretly safer. Skskssk.

[@KH-zr6pt]

My great aunt had been having issues for months and months and her doctor told her to just lose weight - it wasn't until she hadn't had a bowel movement in a *month* that they finally did tests and found she had an ovarian tumor the size of a grapefruit. She only lived a couple months afted she FINALLY got diagnosed. My mom also had a friend who got gastric bypass surgery and had her staples come out at home which made her have internal bleeding - she sadly wasn't able to get help soon enough and ended up passing away. It's so maddening to think about how many people have died due to fatphobia, not because they were fat

[@emb3863]

Oh man, being fat going to the doctor is truly something... and I just wanna say I'm not even that fat, I can't imagine how much worse it is for folks that are way way fatter than I am. I remember years ago having very severe debilitating period cramps so I found a gyno to go to and after speaking to me for less than 5 minutes, not asking anything about diet, lifestyle what I feel or what I even do with my life told me to lose like 20 pounds and gave me a premade diet plan by some company like... I got very angry and that's not right to do as a doctor but I can take it and move on with my life, but what if I was someone with an ED who got told that he doesn't know me

[@Accountdeactivated_1986]

I’m like 80 lbs overweight and have never had this happen. Where are these doctors? Here in California doctors are so terrified of being canceled they’d never dare to mention losing weight to help alleviate all of the health problems that being obese can bring.

[@miriamlevenson9430]

brb moving to california

[@tanithlow8435]

That's shit :/ I had an experience where I went to my doctor for headaches and she seemed kind of lost with what to do with me. So I guess that's why she then said 'you could also loose some weight' - against *headaches*

[@ratgurl1]

⁠@@Accountdeactivated_1986”doctors are so terrified of being cancelled” lmao is this a joke? there’s empirical evidence of racism and weight discrimination among healthcare providers everywhere in the US, including data from Californians. the misappropriation of the term “cancelled” is embarrassing- were you looking for “sued” or “losing a patient” ? cause those are ACTUAL consequences for discriminatory behavior

[@lowrodrigo47]

I had a doctor tell me to lose weight when I wasn't even overweight 😂 I had to laugh in her face. Switched doctors obviously.

[@kelelizabeth]

As an eating disorder therapist, thank you for this video! You did a fantastic job!!

[@sha8photo]

Hey, obesity is complex, yes, but it’s really important to not ignore the health risks that can be associated with being bigger. Not ALL conversations around weight loss are completely steeped in fatphobia, and it’s not helpful to castigate them all as such. If we start doing this, there are people who WILL die because they refuse the help they really do need.

[@draalttom844]

Anti fatphobia movements are pro health. So no that doest happen

[@EditedByRents]

From my experience (though I can't judge each and every case, obviously), most of the weight gain associated issues come from your mental condition and psychological problems that make you overeat to compensate for whichever reason your life is not going as it could be. I personally believe that there are limits to which our bodies are naturally (let's say, biologically) capable to withstand extra weight, and that obesity never serves you right. With that said, I firmly believe that no one should be shamed for their size, and rather we, as a society, should pay more attention to psychological treatment of overeating. Kindness is the key, including the ability to be kind to yourself, while taking drugs like Ozempic without prescription only aggravates the issue. Thank you for this video!

[@artisticflower]

I’m with you on this! We can hold true that diet culture is harmful to our society AND that obesity leads to a plethora of bad health outcomes at the same time. I’d love to see a bigger focus on healthy lifestyle changes and body neutrality in our culture and teaching kids about nutrition and movement that don’t make them feel guilty or miserable, because that’s what it took for me to come to a place where I could get to a healthier weight. No one should be hating themselves to thinness just for aesthetic reasons and privileges.

[@roxassora2706]

Boosting the algorithm. And the fatness thing is so true. I think the male gaze also has something to do with it.

[@roxassora2706]

And the quote about moms and dieting. I am making a lifestyle change due to sleep patterns, but I understand how this affects primarily women compared to men.

[@ville__]

*Don't translate.. भवतः हृदयस्य धड़कनं कतिपयेषु घण्टेषु स्थगयिष्यति, अस्य शापस्य मुक्तिं प्राप्तुं एकमात्रं मार्गं मम चैनलस्य सदस्यतां कुर्वन्तु*

[@FountainWeeper]

​@@ville__they were doing these comments 20 years ago on KZbin and MySpace and aol and we're still alive so...

[@ratgurl1]

a 2021 study showed that straight women and gay men have the most severe body-image issues! theres *definitely* something there about the male gaze (tho i wish they studied bi/pan/enby people too)

[@kurootsuki3326]

3:07 should probably watch the video first, but a few things from my experience as a medical graduate who sat in a whole lot of GP clinics in Australia: - ozempic (and its drug class, though less commonly because there's less evidence) is now used off-label as a weight loss drug requested by non-celebrities. The problem with it is the exact same as other appetite suppressant drugs. Even if you counsel people, they often don't process it. They need to make dietary *change* while on the drug ie cut sugar, not eat less, to see results, by building a habit that can persist after the appetite suppressant is gone. While most young people aren't diabetic, the insulin regulation from the drug probably also helps with inflammatory processes and metabolism (high glucose causes inflammation and dysregulation of systems). I.e., its a more effective but otherwise similar weight loss drug as the others we have. Not to mention, it's really bad to meet patients who are T2DM and treated with ozempic who can't get hold of it. Patients with T2DM don't start with ozempic - its an additive to metformin or backup, after they've tried a number of other drugs (in the Australian PBS anyway), so they honestly *really* need access to prevent degradation. Lot's of pharmacies had to set aside stock for them etc. It's interesting because the conclusion almost is 'offlabel prescribing shouldn't happen' but this removes autonomy from both doctors and their patients in shared decision making, and in fields like psychiatry would be a disaster. Maybe we should have a health policy enshrined that allows us to prevent offlabel prescribing of *certain* drugs in shortage settings.

[@TheQuietRiotProductions]

If it sounds like eugenics, it’s eugenics. It’s insane how many things that are still normalized has roots in eugenics.

[@juliannam6884]

People have so ingrained the idea that fat = unhealthy and skinny = healthy which makes SO many assumptions. I have health problems that make it hard for me to gain and keep on weight, and people often tell me they wish they had my body , EVEN THO they know I have some severe issues that seriously impact my quality of life 😭 like do not aspire to this, I am seriously ill

[@annabeinglazy5580]

The whole calories in calories out thing is so hilarious to me, cuz it acts like bodies are Machines... But even that doesnt cut it. My phone uses electricity. But the amount it uses changes based on my activities and the state of its battery. Bodies dont just run on a strict amount of calories. Its influences by hormone levels, stress, illnesses, natural metabolism, muscle mass, etc. If you put a body on a diet, it will sense "starvation mode" and decreasing its calory use. Battery saver mode. Anyone who Thinks that its just a bit of middle school math is kind of hilarious to me

[@radishfest]

Love this. Continuing the metaphor, drastic cycling can damage the battery. Repeated, forced diets can damage the metabolism. I feel like it's immoral to encourage temporary weight loss at the expense of long-term stability. We cannot buy replacement bodies.

[@lowrodrigo47]

Well said

[@Stacey_Robinson]

Thank you so much for taking the time to approach this topic with so much care and thoughtfulness. Your desire to dive deep into topics without jumping into an opinion or "side" is why I love your videos so much. You and ContraPoints are truly the best people on youtube imo for aesthetic, vibey videos that help me relax while also making me smarter. :)

[@j.lawrence678]

This was so well researched and written, wow. I love video essays and this is such a good example of one. As someone who didn’t know much about ozempic I feel empowered to ask more questions Ana know more. This was amazing omg

[@leilausmani7404]

Literally watching this while on a walk to get skinny for my “summer body”… you clocked me so many times in this video 😭😭😭😭

[@prosperpascoe3176]

giggling like a child at the succession L-to-the-OG clip. never gets old. amazing video in general too!!! so well researched.

[@generalkenobi2287]

Off topic but that ozempic jingle from the commercial brought me back to my childhood

[@housecat5958]

I think you’re right that there is a culture of shame around celebrity augmentation, but i think that some people point out these things like use of weight loss drugs and plastic surgery to remind us normies not to hold ourselves to those standards cause the people we keep seeing every day who are lauded as beautiful don’t even look like that naturally and it gets intermingled with just hating on them for no reason, so it becomes hard to tell the difference.

[@kimba1727]

i think i did less research for my master’s thesis than you did for this video, what an interesting & educational watch!!

[@charlottecrowninshield6277]

Please do a part two, this was so well researched I would really like to see what you didn't get to cover in this video

[@4amlibra]

Reminder that Frederick Banting, the man who discovered how to make insulin for injection, sold the patent for $1 because he knew how many lives it could save and wanted it to be as cheap and accessible as possible. Insulin now costs between $950-$1350 per month.

[@CasaDuroTinyHome]

Clapping along to this, as a T1D this infuriates me. But to be more precise, insulin per capita in the U.S. as of 2020 is $98.70 per 100 IU/mL, compared to an average of $12.00 per 100 IU/mL across 32 other countries. America lacks regulations to negotiate drug prices, so Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk can set whatever price they want to make it as profitable as possible.

[@yay5112]

I got recommended Ozempic around 2 years ago from my gynecologist. I was only there for my annual and was so caught off guard by it. I expect it at my primary or if I go to a specialist for symptoms, but didn’t expect it at a gyno check up

[@thegalmalpal9908]

Small add-on, this is a rare case of an FDA dub. I know someone who works for novo-nordisk, originally they wanted weight-loss to be an official indication for ozempic, but the fda recognized the problems that might cause for people with diabetes, so made them create a "different" drug (wegovy) to hopefully keep diabetics and the weight-loss people separate.

[@carlyhunt1787]

As a fat person, it does bother me that someone that has never struggled with weight or an eating disorder decides to make a video or comment on Ozempic. You don't get it, and you never will. If you have struggled, then disregard this comment I guess. There is a reason why so many morbidly obese people want this drug. I, and many others, struggle DAILY with food. If a medication can help me with this I am willing to try. I don't think people should be shamed for wanting to change their lives. (Not saying you're shaming people, just speaking in general.)

[@Thepeanutcollector]

Girl did you watch the video. She’s not shaming people or coming after fat people or whatever made your feelings get hurt, she’s speaking about the issue of ozempic as a whole. Also how do you know she’s not fat or overweight, or if she ever was? And it’s not a weight loss drug, or something that’s meant to help fat people or morbidly obese people, it’s for diabetics. I think you need to watch the video again.

[@MidnightSunRAB]

not youtube giving me an ozempic ad

[@lmaolmao6110]

Im obese (300+), i have noticed how people have been treating me has gotten worse and i have noticed myself internalizing that hate and doing the same to other fat people. I have PCOS and have been forced on every fad diet as a kid, been shamed by my parents, Grandparents and even siblings at times, my brother even says things sometimes labeling me as fat before labeling me as person and while he calls me beautiful, he treats his skinny woman friends wayy different then he treats me.

[@veritasexperience7765]

Looking 4ward to absolutely sending it with the oze-lads at BESS Ball next quarter

[@gabrielajonczyk5663]

The medicine and entertainment industry should be studied because it's clear that it's becoming a very dangerous area when people are selling and propagating substances and surgeries that can have long lasting negative or destructive effects but they are sold because of the "trending" or "new thing" effect.

[@laurelinvanyar]

Being on ozempic has really made me sit with my own internalized fatphobia. I was prescribed for PCOS insulin resistance, but even in my own mind I consider it a weight loss drug. I have to ask myself: would I really put myself through all these side effects if I wasn't also promised a thinner, more socially acceptable body? Considering how I switched from metformin to ozempic in the first place, because of the side effects, I'd honestly have to say no. Would I be so eager to increase my dosage if I was losing weight quicker, knowing that it takes me months to adjust? Again, no. I definitely second your recommendation of Sabrina Strings' book. It was a tough read for me, not because it's particularly dense or badly written, but the subject matter is a lot to take in and difficult to confront. Well worth anyone's time.

[@christineadams3454]

I rarely comment on videos, but I was moved to do so here because I was so impressed by you. Both articulate and well researched. And I love how you embed photos and citations. Well done! This was extremely informative and eye-opening.

[@Jay-cz5pw]

My mom went on it as a weight loss drug, and for about 3 weeks after two doses, she had to have prisms on her glasses. There is a lot that isn’t known about these drugs, and the focus on weight loss is putting a lot of people at risk.

[@vivanesca]

This is a fantastic video Elle! thank you for your compassion

[@syddlinden8966]

This was really really well done. Great coverage if both the science and the social stuff

[@ireallyamjomarch]

The research that goes behind these videos is stunning. I’m definitely reading all of the books you mentioned.

[@elleliteracy]

thank you so much!

[@tony_two]

I loved the video! ❤ I would really enjoy it if you made a series of videos with the rest of your research. I would definitely watch! Anyway, great job!

[@lornatw]

The amount of people I know wih type 2 D who say their medication is always running out at the pharmacy and now we know why???? Actually shameful

[@mayasougueh6776]

As a black fat woman your commentaries, insight, and research into this topic is incredibly heartwarming to me and I just want to appreciate the amount of research that you put into your videos, so thanks for that! ❤

[@elleliteracy]

thank you so much!!!! 💖

[@scarlettdamante4945]

What a great video, this is the first I've seen from you and I'm pleasantly impressed & surprised by the level of research, in depth exploration, referencing, and delivery. High quality stuff!

[@hepcatliz]

ohhh so THATs what rybelsus is! I REFUSE to google any of these drug ads, and these commercials are on ALL THE TIME. great video 😅❤

[@annest7694]

Great video, you did an amazing job and i especially loved your sensitivity and your explanations of the drugs, you made it a lot easier for people like me with minimal chemistry experience understanding a little more than we did before

[@remetorrico1740]

announcing weightloss did make sense as it’s used as a pcos drug, weightloss is a big need in pcos for many (i cannot have many drugs used in pcos so my doctors always tell me to lose weight to regulate my hormones but a syptom of pcos is dificulty to lose weight)

[@foxywhitetip7387]

YET weightloss messes with our hormones

[@remetorrico1740]

@@foxywhitetip7387 we were trown an impossible task fr

[@compassionandhumility]

I didn't know what to expect going into this video, but I was pleasantly surprised; very well done.

[@nj_jocelyn]

I was gonna write out a whole thing about my weight loss journey here but then I felt so overwhelmed by how much of my life it has been and continues to be that all I can say is two things: One - this is a video and tipis that could be 5 hours of information. At least, 3. This was just touching on the surface of what is going on with fat phobia in America specifically but in general Two - When I’ve been talking about how as I was starting “my weight loss journey” or whatever, I would jokingly say “I’m trying to find out how little I can eat without inconveniencing people” This video has made me really wanna make my own.

[@katiemakesfaces9628]

This is absolutely the best most informed video I have seen yet. you did so much research holy moly!

[@rebekahbudd5830]

Over the last few years I gained over 40 pounds from PCOS and hypothyroidism. Which put my BMI in the obese range. My endocrinologist's treatment plan for me is; cut out white sugar, flour, and potatoes. Eat more legumes and fiber. Walk and do resistance training. And monitor the thyroid with bi annual tests. I'm trying to focus on moving more and finding exercise I enjoy. I've made some dietary changes but try to not go extreme. I have a history of eating disorders and restriction can trigger bingeing. It may have been the anorexia and binge eating during my school years that messed up my thyroid in the first place

[@makennanugent9665]

Zumba has been really fun for me as a PCOS girlie.

[@naofg]

I've always been labeled fat as long as I can remember. I was always "the fat kid" in the group growing up. Then, as an adult, I started to gain more weight, and when the pandemic started I gained way more. Now I look back and see that I'd pretty much never been reallly fat, I was always between "not thin enough to be thin" and " a bit overweight". Now I'm actually technically in the obese category according my BMI, and I see I was way too preoccupied with my weight for most of my life when it was actually totally fine. And for the past few months I've been taking ADHD meds, and they inhibit my appetite. It sucks because it's really hard to make myself eat while I'm on them, let alone cook. A lot of the time most food makes me feel a tad nauseous, and I feel full from eating way smaller portions than I used to. The result is that, without trying, I've lost around 6kg / 13ibs so far. I wonder how sustainable this is and whether I'll gain it all back if I change medications later on (my doctor wants me to try a different type thats isn't a stimulant). I also dislike that I'm not reallly losing weight in a healthy way, since my lack or appetite causes me to eat the most practical foods that don't require me to spend too long cooking, so I eat little, but don't make the best choices.

[@charluvsyou]

Like any weight loss "miracle" (water fasting, 30-day challenges, etc), not only are there potential harms to the body but the weight loss doesn't last unless you make major changes to keep the weight off after. Nothing will keep weight off if you keep living the lifestyle that made you gain that weight in the first place. Lifestyle is not easy to change, especially when systematic issues like poverty and racism are factors. I am obese and trying extremely hard to change my lifestyle and yes the thought of losing the weight that I need to lose (for actual health reasons) with a magic pill is something I wish I could do, but I know it wouldn't fix the underlying problem with my lifestyle and eating habits.

[@Iselihome143]

the teletubies clip….i deserve an apology😭

[@domsusefulstuff]

Really informative, thoroughly researched and with a great overall perspective. I think (and hope) this will definitely change some minds.

[@justviniana]

From a obese person that wants to change things: it’s not only the doctor problem. You get reduced to your weight way more often than that. People say, exercise more and then make fun of you when you do. Is this an earthquake? Nah it’s just *name* haha. And we get shamed much more for what we eat then others. She’s at McDonald’s? Well she’s probably here almost every day. (When that was said about me I was there after more than 4 years of not eating this kind of fastfood with friends who really wanted to go there) And the most important thing is that obese people are (almost) never obese just because they choose to eat unhealthy food and sit around all day. In many cases it’s caused by mental health problems and/or a eating disorder. (Both applies to me)

[@julia16663]

Love the Succession reference:)

[@toomuchsci-fi]

I work with pharmacy data as a data scientist and theres also the added complication of rebates in the medicare/medicaid system. The way its built allows new, name brand meds to get more money versus generic. If the rebate amount isn't high enough the company will pass that cost to non-insured or underinsured people. These programs are also supposed to be the payer of last resort, so if insurance is willing to cover some of it, thats another layer of how to complicate it and get more money