Ozempic?
In case you aren’t on social media–or into celebrity gossip–tons of celebrities are on Ozempic, or a similar drug (Kelly Osbourne, Amy Schumer, and Elon Musk, to name a few). While there could be an argument that it’s a personal choice, the normalization of it for everyone should never have happened. It should have been reserved for people with chronic illnesses that cause weight gain in unhealthy amounts.
In case you didn’t know, Semaglutide (Ozempic) mimics the natural hormone GLP-1, which is produced in the gut and plays a key role in regulating appetite and food intake. GLP-1 receptors are found in the brain, particularly in the hypothalamus and brainstem, which are involved in controlling hunger and satiety. By activating the GLP-1 receptors in the brain, semaglutide helps reduce feelings of hunger, leading to decreased calorie intake. (Mayo Clinic)
Semaglutide also slows down the rate at which food leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine, a process known as delayed gastric emptying. This delayed gastric emptying leads to a prolonged sense of fullness and satiety, further reducing food intake. (Mayo Clinic)
Body Checking/Shaming
There have been a number of trends throughout TikTok’s history that push an agenda of being fatphobic, or people being obsessed with proving that they aren’t fat. Despite how many plus size people / content creators speak on how uncomfortable, or even triggering the trend may be. “Either some TikTokers are unaware of these critical correlations, or they just don’t care, because fatphobia trends are a mainstay on the app.” (Crimmins)
“I Bet She’s Fat Under All Those Clothes”
This TikTok trend involved a person (usually female) standing in front of the camera in a baggy top, while the text on the video would say something along the lines of “I bet she’s fat under all those clothes”. Then, the person would pull the shirt back so it was tight along their body to show it off / prove they aren’t fat.
“When I’m A Size 2 But The Size 12 Girl…”
This trend was again, a (usually female) TikToker sitting in front of a camera, and the text would be a paragraph about how the “size 12 girl” is happy, and living her best life. But, at least the poster is a size 2, and that’s the important part.
While seemingly innocent TikTok trends, these can have negative effects on a teens or young adult girl’s mental health, as 15.9% of female TikTok users are women aged 18-24 (Duarte).
The Plus Size Fashion Problem
The fashion industry has many of its own flaws. Here’s a few.
The Lack of Size Inclusive Pieces
In most stores, the sizes on the shelves range from XS-XXL, with the occasional XXS. Unfortunately, this means that any size above an XXL, is usually either nonexistent or online only.
Hidden/Nonexistent Plus Size Sections
Another problem with stores and their relationship with plus size anything is the location, or existence of a section dedicated to plus sizes. For example, some stores may have a plus size section, but it will be hidden in a back room or tucked in a corner somewhere. A TikToker named Samyra will go into her local stores and try to locate their plus sized sections. She is usually unsuccessful.
Restrictive Diet Trends
From the fat free diets in the 90s to the crunchy whole foods only diets of today, there has been no shortage of restrictive and harmful diets for women. One of the more famous diet trends is Weight Watchers. This diet uses a point based system, the point amounts would be tied to foods based on the calories, saturated fat, sugar, and protein contained in the food. For example, an English muffin would be one point, while a plain bagel would be nine. The amount of points you get is determined by your gender, age, weight, and height. My target point amount would be 41 points, 54 if I were male. This point based system leads to people not eating all day to “save up their points” to be able to have a big dinner or have a dessert.
Bigorexia and ARFID: Lesser Known Eating Disorders
Bigorexia
Bigorexia is a form of body dysmorphia is an eating disorder that typically affects younger men, according to the National Alliance for Eating disorders nearly 90% of people afflicted are between the ages of 15 and 32. It is characterized by an individual’s obsession with upping muscle mass and lowering their body fat percentage, this usually results in the individual obsessively working out and calorie counting. If that sounds familiar it’s because these are hallmark symptoms of anorexia, however bigorexia is often disregarded as on the outside it simply looks like a person trying to stay fit and healthy.
ARFID
ARFID or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is an eating disorder primarily affecting children, especially boys and there is usually an underlying cause such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Autism, or Anxiety. It is characterized by an individual’s extremely selective eating habits, a lack of interest in food, and if the preferred foods are especially restrictive it can lead to poor growth and nutrition. For some children the condition can be so severe as to require a feeding tube to allow for proper nutrition.