The Rise Of Weight Loss Medication Trends: Mental Health Implications & Challenging Stigmas Around Body Size

Weight management medications have started appearing more frequently in the media, advertising “fast results.” Since these types of medications may offer higher effectiveness than other weight loss methods, they’ve taken off in the weight loss industry in terms of sales and demand and are being more frequently discussed by influencers on social media as well. When weight loss is trending in the media, mental health impacts often follow due to stigma, body shaming, and other effects. Below, we’ll explore how this trend may impact public mental health and how you can challenge stigma to support your own emotional well-being and that of those around you.  

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The trend of weight loss medication for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other weight-related health concerns 

Since 2022, prescriptions for weight loss medications that aim to treat obesity in people who have trouble losing weight have been filled by the millions, garnering over $21 million in sales—an 89% increase from 2022 to 2023. These medications are advertised as a safe and quick method of losing weight and have become increasingly socially accepted. In addition, they’ve become more widely preferred over other common methods of weight loss, including reduced-calorie diet plans, gastric bypass surgery, and supplements. 

Weight loss medications are often injected daily and require a prescription. Usually, they are prescribed by a doctor to treat weight-related medical problems like diabetes or digestive and kidney diseases. However, companies have been established in recent months and years that allow customers to meet with a telehealth doctor online and get a prescription within minutes for a monthly subscription cost. This method allows more people to order these prescription medications from home without seeing a doctor in person. 

With the increased availability of prescription medications for obesity treatment and increased sales, more companies are also paying influencers to discuss these medications online—including celebrity influencers who have shown visible results of weight loss after previous weight gain. This influence drives more people to ask for such prescriptions from their doctor or to use telehealth services to get them. 

Societal shifts and increased acceptance of weight management: How does it impact mental health?  

This method of weight management has become increasingly socially acceptable due to heavy advertising both online and off. Recently, stigma around weight and body fat has also persisted—if not worsened. Discrimination toward others based on their weight or body type has become more normalized. It can be seen increasingly in social media comments, such as those recommending that someone try certain weight loss medications or those that call people unhealthy for how they look, regardless of their actual health or lifestyle habits. 

The mental health impacts of body shaming trends and the inaccuracy of BMI 

Body shaming has become almost normalized in society, with messages like “You’re not healthy if you’re fat” being spread online and in person. Due to this culture, people in larger bodies are more likely to experience discrimination from medical professionals and support services and may also experience judgment and ostracization from peers and even loved ones. 

When someone is frequently faced with bullying, messages that their body is not healthy or not attractive, and pressure to change, they may be put at a higher risk of eating disorders, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicide. Mental illness is serious, and the disrespect, avoidance, and even hatred of fat people in society have led to a higher risk of mental health conditions among this population. 

Why BMI is no longer an accurate tool for weight management or weight loss, even for those with conditions like type 2 diabetes 

New evidence suggests that the body mass index (BMI) scale, often used by medical professionals to determine whether someone is a “normal” or “healthy” weight, may not be as accurate as once thought. Dr. Holly Russel, MD, interviewed in an article published by Rochester University, states: “Despite assumptions we’ve come to accept as facts, the evidence linking weight and health is inconsistent.” 

BMI has been around since the 19th century but is increasingly being considered an outdated way to determine health. This may be at least partly because, when it was developed, health-related studies were done primarily on white males to determine an “ideal body weight.” 

Doctors who understand this research are pushing for a new scale. They point out that many people with a high or low BMI may still be healthy and that BMI may cause people of larger sizes to not be taken seriously at the doctor when they come in for real concerns. This stigma is called weight bias, and it has been suggested by research to reduce the quality of care and health outcomes for individuals considered overweight or obese who are trying to find support from a doctor. If a person is denied healthcare due to their weight or told they are only experiencing symptoms because of their body size, they may also be at a higher risk of losing their lives due to suicide, delayed diagnosis of serious illness, or other factors.  

Challenging body size stigma: How to make a positive difference

Discrimination against people in larger bodies can be considered a public health issue, as it can have serious consequences. Below are ways to challenge body size stigma in your daily life, regardless of your own weight or body type. 

Stand up against shaming regarding body size, weight loss, and obesity 

Anyone can stand up against body shaming or fat shaming, but many people don’t due to the prevalence of these behaviors. Disrespecting or hating someone for their body type or making assumptions about their health or character due to how they look has become normalized. However, you can make a change by pushing back when you hear or see such comments being made.

In particular, people who are considered “fit” by current societal standards can make a positive impact by standing up for those living in larger bodies. If you see jokes on this topic online or hear conversations that perpetuate the stigma, you can be the voice of reason and compassion. You might share the recent research that suggests that BMI is not an accurate indicator of health and talk about the barriers people in larger bodies face in terms of being treated with respect, receiving healthcare, and simply existing in society. In addition, you can stand up against all types of body shaming, including those that involve making fun of people with visible differences, disabilities, or unique features. 

Respect personal decisions around health and weight 

Another supportive action can be to show respect for people's decisions about their bodies, whether those include pursuing weight loss or not. If someone doesn’t want to lose weight, even if they’re in a larger body, it's generally not helpful or appropriate to try to convince them that they should or tell them that they’re unhealthy. Instead, you might respect the fact that they know what’s best for them, just as you know what’s best for you. It can also be helpful to remember that body shaming is often not rooted in a genuine desire for someone else to be healthy but a desire to control someone else’s actions or project one’s own insecurities. 

Instead of talking about weight loss medication options with people, you might assume they already know what’s available for weight loss and that they will discuss any healthcare needs with their doctor rather than with acquaintances or strangers on the internet. Commenting on someone else’s body, unprompted, can lead them to experience distress and mental health challenges, so it’s typically best to refrain from doing so. 

It can also be helpful to avoid shaming anyone for choosing to use weight loss medication. As long as it’s done healthily and is not due to an eating disorder, doing so is a valid choice. Each person has a right to bodily autonomy, and this includes being able to change your body in the ways that suit you. If you think you may be living with an eating disorder, reach out to your doctor or a mental health care provider as soon as possible. 

Interact with body-positive content online

Many influencers have been promoting weight loss content recently. To help ensure a balance, you might make an effort to support and interact with body-positive and body-neutral creators. For example, you could engage with posts that encourage loving yourself and respecting the decisions of others. You could also follow accounts on social media that focus on mental health and wellness and don’t use trends to sell someone products for weight loss. 

Even if you are choosing to lose weight, you might try to follow influencers who positively share weight loss journeys without shaming anyone for their body size or talking about who may be “unhealthy.” Supporting these creators can help spread these messages so more people can see them.

Reducing the side effects of stress related to body image or social pressure

Mental and physical health are highly connected. Regardless of your body type, you might consider practicing the following tips to care for your mental and physical health, particularly in this age of frequent body shaming.

Prioritize enjoyable physical movement in any form

Physical movement is widely considered by healthcare professionals to be important, and it can have many potential benefits outside of a goal to lose weight. People may exercise to stay healthy, feel happy, bond with others, or have fun. Below are some forms of physical movement you might explore in an effort to find the ones you enjoy: 

• Going to the gym 
• Following a dance video at home 
• Trying yoga
• Going for walks with a pet or a friend
• Swimming 
• Ice skating 
• Roller skating 
• Stretching 
• Going to a group dance class 
• Going dancing at a bar or club
• Playing team sports
• Running
• Lifting weights 
• Hiking 
• Rock or mountain climbing

Address emotions and the side effects of stress in a healthy way

Emotions can often be directly connected to physical health. Research suggests that suppressing your emotions may be linked to elevated levels of stress. Long-term stress can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, headaches, inflammation, and early mortality. When emotions arise, it can be helpful to allow them to exist, giving yourself space to feel. 

It’s also generally recommended that you express your emotions in healthy ways over time instead of bottling them up. Although negative feelings can be difficult to cope with, addressing them in a timely manner may be more effective than having to cope with them later down the line when they become more intense. Journaling, singing, creating art, talking to a friend, and working with a therapist are a few generally healthy ways to engage with your emotions.

Build healthy relationships 

Research suggests that healthy social relationships are necessary for both physical and mental health. You might aim to surround yourself with people who love you no matter what body you’re in. Consider reducing time spent with those who cause you significant stress or frequently pressure you to lose weight or change your body in any way. Remind people in your life that everyone deserves respect regardless of their appearance. 

Future directions in weight management and mental health 

Weight management products will continue to be created as long as there is a demand for them, but you can contribute to positive change by being respectful and standing up against stigma. More and more mental health providers and doctors are also joining this movement, realizing that the BMI is outdated and looking for more body-neutral or body-positive ways to support their clients. Together, it can be possible to work toward a future that involves greater acceptance of the choices people make for their own bodies and minds instead of a desire to control or pressure others.  

Work with a professional on body image challenges

Connect with a compassionate therapist

Mental health support options 

If you’re facing challenges related to your mental health—such as depression, anxiety, body image issues, eating disorders, PTSD, stress, relationship challenges, or other conditions or symptoms—you’re not alone. Many people benefit from speaking with a therapist to address such challenges, and therapy is often the first-line approach to treat depression and other conditions. That said, some people face shame and anxiety that lead to reluctance to seek therapy in person. In such cases, seeking online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be a more comfortable and convenient option for receiving care.

Through this type of online platform, you can meet with a therapist remotely via phone, video, or live chat from home or anywhere you have internet. Many people find that meeting with a provider from the comfort of their own space can improve their ability to engage in the therapeutic process in an honest and meaningful way. Studies suggest that online therapy can be especially effective in supporting those living with eating disorders, with one study indicating effectiveness levels similar to in-person therapy for treating conditions like binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa.