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5
“No More Gym”: New Anti-Obesity Meds Already Outperform Ozempic Amid Weight Loss Craze
Interview With Author
2024 saw the popularity of Ozempic reach a fever pitch, mainly due to becoming the go-to solution for celebrities looking for a quick fix for weight loss, with many using their platforms to gush about the “miraculous” properties of the compound.
Far from slowing down, 2025 is set to usher in a new generation of even more potent weight-loss drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Retatrutide, promising results that could double what Hollywood’s favorite injection delivered.
Highlights
- Dr. Lindsay Kite warns against the impact weight-loss medication are having on women.
- A new generation of potent weight loss drugs is currently being tested.
- Kite called for celebrities to be more honest about their body transformations.
- Parents urged to counteract beauty myths and nurture positive self-image.
For Lindsay Kite, Ph.D., co-author of More Than a Body: Your Body Is an Instrument, Not an Ornament, and co-director of the Beauty Redefined Foundation, the current situation is a “minefield” for women and teenagers, whose self-esteem is constantly under attack.
In an exclusive interview with Bored Panda, Kite delved into the responsibility celebrities have in pushing the “monstrous myth that looking good equals feeling good.”
RELATED:
A body image expert warned against the rising popularity of weight-loss drugs, and shared tips for women to protect their self-esteem
Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash
There’s currently over 100 drug candidates in trials, with the pharmaceutical industry in fierce competition to grab a piece of the lucrative obesity treatment market. According to Goldman Sachs, the area is projected to skyrocket to a massive $100 billion by 2030.
But for Kite, the monetary success of these drugs comes at a much higher cost: the self-esteem and body image of women and girls across the globe.
“The idea that looking good equals feeling good is a monstrous myth we have to stop perpetuating,” she said, pointing out that thinness is often mistakenly associated with happiness and health.
Image credits: lizzobeeating
The rise of weight-loss drugs, according to Kite, is just another facet of the ongoing pressure society places on women to meet unrealistic body ideals.
“We’ve all been conditioned to believe that achieving a certain appearance will solve our problems, but weight loss doesn’t stop you from feeling defined by or obsessed with your body,” she emphasized.
Even when people lose weight, the obsession with monitoring their appearance doesn’t vanish, she added.
According to the expert, the success of Ozempic goes hand-in-hand with celebrities praising its use in the media
Image credits: UCG / Getty
For the author, Ozempic’s success has been due in part to the role celebrities and Hollywood play in shaping the public’s perception of beauty.
“Celebrities and influencers play a major role in pushing impossible beauty standards and turning up the weight loss pressure on everyone,” she explained. “They normalize and glamorize very specific body ideals.”
Oprah, Amy Schumer, Sharon Osbourne, Whoopi Goldberg, and Elon Musk are just some of the famous people who have confessed to having used the injection for weight loss purposes.
Image credits: beauty_redefined
Celebrity culture, Kite explains, is built on people idolizing famous figures, looking for guidance on what’s desirable and, more importantly, deserving of love.
“When women are valued primarily for how they look, then the rest of society looks to celebrities and influencers for cues on how to look the best they can—and therefore improve their value, confidence, happiness, ability to be loved.”
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Kite takes issue with the lack of transparency many celebrities show when discussing their transformations. The real damage, she points out, comes when these public figures attribute their appearance to easily accessible methods, obscuring the real interventions behind the scenes.
“It’s not the flat tummy tea or their skincare routine,” she pointed out. “It’s often invasive procedures, weight-loss medications, or both.”
The author called for celebrities to be more transparent and aware of the damage the trend is causing to women around the world
Image credits: Oprah
Holding nothing back, the expert called for celebrities to be held accountable for not being honest about the surgeries, injections, drugs, fat transplants, implants, and other procedures used to achieve their look.
“The socially responsible thing to do is to be honest about what really goes on behind the scenes to create the final image,” Kite said.
Image credits: whoopigoldberg
“What are the real costs, the side effects both mentally and physically, and do you really absolutely love your body more because of it?” Kite challenged them to reflect.
“Are you truly at peace and full of confidence, or are you promoting an unrealistic and faulty shortcut to body positivity and empowerment?”
Image credits: amyschumer
“Celebrities have the choice to either be honest about the medical interventions that helped them achieve their look or to continue pushing an image that leaves out the struggles they still face with body image, even after reaching their so-called ‘body goals.’”
Image credits: Haberdoedas / Unsplash
While Kite hopes that Hollywood will eventually recognize the harmful impact they have on impressionable girls and young women, she emphasizes that waiting for the media industry to change isn’t enough.
Instead, she urges individuals—especially parents and caregivers—to be proactive in protecting their daughters’ self-esteem and body image.
Kite shared with Bored Panda her recommendations for parents to help encourage a more positive self-image in their children
Image credits: beauty_redefined
In her interview, the expert shared some of her key strategies for helping young people navigate the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards.
According to the doctor, parents should first guide their daughters toward understanding what she refers to as the “beauty myths” perpetuated by society.
The first of said myths is the idea that reaching certain beauty ideals will lead to more confidence, love, health, and happiness.
“Who are the real-life examples of people who don’t fit all the ideals and have good lives, happy relationships, confidence, success, good health?” she asked, pointing out that the reverse is also true.
Image credits: Roberto Sorin
The second myth is that industries—such as fashion, diet, and pharmaceuticals—have people’s best interests at heart.
“Major industries thrive on us believing our looks are our main source of value and happiness. They’re not,” she said, explaining that they ultimately benefit from making people feel inadequate.
Finally, she stressed the importance of creating an environment where “appearance is way down the list of what is important,” encouraging parents to focus on teaching good hygiene and self-care without making appearance the central focus.
“Adolescents and teens are especially vulnerable to the harmful aspects of beauty and weight-loss messages because they’re still trying to figure out what makes them valuable as individuals.
“Help them find their own value outside of those rigid ideals.”
Readers interested in following Dr. Lindsay and Dr. Lexie Kite’s work can do so at their website:More Than A Body.
“Wild.” Netizens took to social media to express their concern about the rise of weight-loss injections
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Poll Question
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of weight-loss medications?
It’s great – more options for people to achieve their goals.
I'm concerned about the impact on people's self-esteem.
I think it’s being overused – lifestyle changes should come first.
I’m neutral – people should decide what works best for them.
What do you think ?
CK 5 days ago
A lot of people with serious obesity have an underlying problem that these medications help solve. People like to chalk it up to willpower, but having a dysregulated appetite and experiencing hunger all of the time can be debilitating. These d***s are allowing people to lose weight without losing their minds. There is potential for abuse, and they're only a part of the solution. It's absolutely essential to exercise and to get the right nutrition. But there's nothing wrong with using medication to improve your health. You don't get extra points for the unnecessary struggle.
Liserhawkie80 5 days ago
I agree. I'm currently taking a semaglutide for weight loss along with diet and exercise. I think the key to understanding these is also understanding that the d**g doesn't work alone without ALSO altering your diet. The semaglutide helps quiet the food noise in my brain so that I can focus on eating right. I'm also struggling through menopause, which is a huge hinderance to weight loss, but this is helping me. There is no shame in needing help. Just diet and exercise is great for some, but not all.
Load More Replies...
Rafael 4 days ago
I can't upvote you enough, so I did it the one time the site will allow me. However, I would be remiss not to mention that this silly censorship makes it possible to read your fourth sentence as "These dicks are allowing people to lose weight without losing their minds. There is potential for abuse, and they're only a part of the solution". Which I find hilarious :-) Again, don't want to mock your statement, I agree 100%.
WindySwede 4 days ago
they probably also say "Have you tried not being depressed?" or "Have you tried not having a broken bone?" 😬🤨
Tyranamar 4 days ago
What makes me laugh is “have you tried diet and exercise?” No. No obese person has ever tried diet and exercise- multiple times. We are built differently than all these people for who the diet and exercise works. We are programmed to constantly seek food. Which was very helpful when we lived in the wilderness. But not so great in the middle of Vons. We weren’t meant to have constant access to food.
athornedrose 5 days ago
i think the other thing people are overlooking is how much doctors won't listen to women about their health concerns until they've lost weight. no matter what i go in with, the doctor first tells me to lose a bunch of weight. won't test for anything they think can be solved by weight loss first. part of the reason i and a lot women i know want to lose weight quickly is just to see if something else is wrong. if it's a symptom of something bad we can't get treated for because the healthcare system has decided we're fat until proven otherwise.
Corey Threadwalker 4 days ago
Not everyone has the option of exercise. For example: I have a condition where exercise is actually dangerous to me (anything that raises my heart rate and anything that uses too much energy) and I depend on a wheelchair. I am taking meds for my condition which cause weight gain and have gained 45lbs while at the same time losing my muscle weight. Before being sick I was extremely athletic (I grew up a gymnast 2 levels from Olympic level when I quit, did serious martial arts, dance, circus arts etc after gymnastics. I never had a weight problem until being sick. And I'm overweight with no muscle and I've tried dieting for years and nothing moves the needle. I am seriously considering these meds- also because they are anti-inflammatory and have helped some people with my condition as a side effect independent of the weight loss.
Tyranamar 4 days ago
They increase life span. And reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. They reduce all the complications of obesity. Why is everyone down on these miraculous, life changing meds. It’s weird. It shows you how much prejudice against obesity is out there. Even when we get a medication that helps, people hate.
StumblingThroughLife 4 days ago (edited)
I've been miserable gaining 3 stone not long after hitting Meno as well as giving up smoking at 50, over a decade ago (originally 8st prior to that), purely due to the impact on my Osteoarthritis which mostly affects my hips/legs, so I know I'd be much happier reverting to my old weight, regardless what was said in this article. I have been doing low impact exercise for nearly a year (moderate - exercise bike/treadmill, my Osteo is pretty advanced), and although I haven't gained more, I'm more or less still the same weight. I'm Vegetarian, and limit dairy, btw . If people want to cut out the struggle to lose weight by going for appetite suppressants (they can't be sold in the UK, btw), or surgery, I'm not going to shame them for it, although I do hope that they don't suffer future issues because of it, re: medication.
Sherri Tran 4 days ago
As a tool for people that truly have problems regulating their metabolism, these d***s are a lifeline. When you are drowning in yourself because you’ve been working 40+ hours a week, running kids all over the place, feeding them and yourself, it’s hard to be as “disciplined “ as people think you should be. First and foremost, metabolism definitely has something to do with it, second you put stress and unhealthy ways of dealing with that, then top it off with no time for yourself, that’s when things can become uncontrollable. I do take the shot, I cannot drop weight easily, even with the shot I have to be mindful and make better choices. But I can eat one meal a day and lose the weight, or I can eat two meals a day and gain weight. Remember everybody’s body is different. What works for one doesn’t work for all. Be kind people, you do not know what someone could be struggling with.
LillieMean 4 days ago (edited)
I speak for myself, but I am on medication that has increased the weight of many people by several kilos, even dozens, and it has been the only one that suits me with almost no other side effects. I have to exercise several times a week to keep my weight under control. And what happened to the body positivity where we see good in different body shapes? When it comes to sports, the bodies of weightlifters and marathon runners are not the same. This is like a medicated version of the 90s her0in model ideal. Anyone with common sense knows that there are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss and maintaining it in a healthy way. I also read an article that investigated the possibilities of developing a d**g against the harmful effects of a fatty and animal-based diet. So do people really want everything except healthy food and exercise? Something easy like fast food, quick results. I am angry.
Tyranamar 4 days ago
Ah, but you’re wrong. Now there are shortcuts to losing weight. And they come with mostly benefits. So now you have to wrap your mind around that. What does it mean? Maybe that obesity is a disease, with known chemical pathways. Just like any other disease. And it deserves treatment instead of shame? I know- mind blowing!
CK 5 days ago
A lot of people with serious obesity have an underlying problem that these medications help solve. People like to chalk it up to willpower, but having a dysregulated appetite and experiencing hunger all of the time can be debilitating. These d***s are allowing people to lose weight without losing their minds. There is potential for abuse, and they're only a part of the solution. It's absolutely essential to exercise and to get the right nutrition. But there's nothing wrong with using medication to improve your health. You don't get extra points for the unnecessary struggle.
Liserhawkie80 5 days ago
I agree. I'm currently taking a semaglutide for weight loss along with diet and exercise. I think the key to understanding these is also understanding that the d**g doesn't work alone without ALSO altering your diet. The semaglutide helps quiet the food noise in my brain so that I can focus on eating right. I'm also struggling through menopause, which is a huge hinderance to weight loss, but this is helping me. There is no shame in needing help. Just diet and exercise is great for some, but not all.
Load More Replies... Rafael 4 days ago
I can't upvote you enough, so I did it the one time the site will allow me. However, I would be remiss not to mention that this silly censorship makes it possible to read your fourth sentence as "These dicks are allowing people to lose weight without losing their minds. There is potential for abuse, and they're only a part of the solution". Which I find hilarious :-) Again, don't want to mock your statement, I agree 100%.
WindySwede 4 days ago
they probably also say "Have you tried not being depressed?" or "Have you tried not having a broken bone?" 😬🤨
Tyranamar 4 days ago
What makes me laugh is “have you tried diet and exercise?” No. No obese person has ever tried diet and exercise- multiple times. We are built differently than all these people for who the diet and exercise works. We are programmed to constantly seek food. Which was very helpful when we lived in the wilderness. But not so great in the middle of Vons. We weren’t meant to have constant access to food.
athornedrose 5 days ago
i think the other thing people are overlooking is how much doctors won't listen to women about their health concerns until they've lost weight. no matter what i go in with, the doctor first tells me to lose a bunch of weight. won't test for anything they think can be solved by weight loss first. part of the reason i and a lot women i know want to lose weight quickly is just to see if something else is wrong. if it's a symptom of something bad we can't get treated for because the healthcare system has decided we're fat until proven otherwise.
Corey Threadwalker 4 days ago
Not everyone has the option of exercise. For example: I have a condition where exercise is actually dangerous to me (anything that raises my heart rate and anything that uses too much energy) and I depend on a wheelchair. I am taking meds for my condition which cause weight gain and have gained 45lbs while at the same time losing my muscle weight. Before being sick I was extremely athletic (I grew up a gymnast 2 levels from Olympic level when I quit, did serious martial arts, dance, circus arts etc after gymnastics. I never had a weight problem until being sick. And I'm overweight with no muscle and I've tried dieting for years and nothing moves the needle. I am seriously considering these meds- also because they are anti-inflammatory and have helped some people with my condition as a side effect independent of the weight loss.
Tyranamar 4 days ago
They increase life span. And reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. They reduce all the complications of obesity. Why is everyone down on these miraculous, life changing meds. It’s weird. It shows you how much prejudice against obesity is out there. Even when we get a medication that helps, people hate.
StumblingThroughLife 4 days ago (edited)
I've been miserable gaining 3 stone not long after hitting Meno as well as giving up smoking at 50, over a decade ago (originally 8st prior to that), purely due to the impact on my Osteoarthritis which mostly affects my hips/legs, so I know I'd be much happier reverting to my old weight, regardless what was said in this article. I have been doing low impact exercise for nearly a year (moderate - exercise bike/treadmill, my Osteo is pretty advanced), and although I haven't gained more, I'm more or less still the same weight. I'm Vegetarian, and limit dairy, btw . If people want to cut out the struggle to lose weight by going for appetite suppressants (they can't be sold in the UK, btw), or surgery, I'm not going to shame them for it, although I do hope that they don't suffer future issues because of it, re: medication.
Sherri Tran 4 days ago
As a tool for people that truly have problems regulating their metabolism, these d***s are a lifeline. When you are drowning in yourself because you’ve been working 40+ hours a week, running kids all over the place, feeding them and yourself, it’s hard to be as “disciplined “ as people think you should be. First and foremost, metabolism definitely has something to do with it, second you put stress and unhealthy ways of dealing with that, then top it off with no time for yourself, that’s when things can become uncontrollable. I do take the shot, I cannot drop weight easily, even with the shot I have to be mindful and make better choices. But I can eat one meal a day and lose the weight, or I can eat two meals a day and gain weight. Remember everybody’s body is different. What works for one doesn’t work for all. Be kind people, you do not know what someone could be struggling with.
LillieMean 4 days ago (edited)
I speak for myself, but I am on medication that has increased the weight of many people by several kilos, even dozens, and it has been the only one that suits me with almost no other side effects. I have to exercise several times a week to keep my weight under control. And what happened to the body positivity where we see good in different body shapes? When it comes to sports, the bodies of weightlifters and marathon runners are not the same. This is like a medicated version of the 90s her0in model ideal. Anyone with common sense knows that there are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss and maintaining it in a healthy way. I also read an article that investigated the possibilities of developing a d**g against the harmful effects of a fatty and animal-based diet. So do people really want everything except healthy food and exercise? Something easy like fast food, quick results. I am angry.
Tyranamar 4 days ago
Ah, but you’re wrong. Now there are shortcuts to losing weight. And they come with mostly benefits. So now you have to wrap your mind around that. What does it mean? Maybe that obesity is a disease, with known chemical pathways. Just like any other disease. And it deserves treatment instead of shame? I know- mind blowing!
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