Semaglutide, commercially known as Ozempic, is the weight-loss drug currently in vogue—not only for its effects, but because it has been adopted in various social circles where public image becomes the central pivot for selling ideals, body images, or even personalities, always associated with the ideal of thinness.
In a previous post, we analyzed what this drug might mean for many people in elite circles who can obtain it. Public figures have been spokespersons for the benefits of taking this drug, which was originally intended for use in people with diabetes. Beyond the medical or health effects that exist with this drug, there are also effects on the culture of obesity and fatness that are worth exploring.
First, the drug is not available to the majority of the population, making its use a privilege for a select few. We know from various sociological studies that being overweight and obese is a condition differentiated by social structures. That is, lower socioeconomic levels have higher prevalences of obesity and overweight in countries like Mexico, the United States, or France. Obesity, once considered a condition of “excess” and therefore of abundance in food terms, is now a condition of the lower classes. This is due to access to food, but also to living conditions that promote physical well-being. In this sense, the drug, which costs around USD 936 per month, is reserved for those who can afford it. More than ever, being obese will likely be more pronounced in the lower levels that cannot procure special care to address the condition (including professional attention, systems that promote physical activity, safe environments for sports, among other issues).
The cultural effects of the drug’s use have already become apparent, from the publication of various reports about its use in major media outlets. Its presence in popular culture has even spawned expressions like “Ozempic face,” which is how some people refer to the way the face looks after a significant reduction in adipose tissue. According to some, this face betrays its use in people who prefer not to disclose it. Some U.S. media have dedicated discussions about its safe use and long-term effects.
Certain obsessions with looking a certain way, unrelated to health, may also be reinforced, as many people justify the obsession with thinness. Professional guidance should be paramount when using the drug. A positive relationship with food does not include excesses, highly accentuated reward and punishment systems, among other issues. If this fundamental relationship with food is not resolved, it is likely that the underlying problem will not be solved, in terms of the general sense of well-being experienced by the person (which involves issues beyond the physical).
Beyond whether the drug is effective and safe, it is the uses (as with any other substance) that bring about different consequences, which in some cases could be undesirable if the underlying circumstances are not addressed.
— This article was originally published in Spanish by Liliana Martínez Lomelí. Translation generated with AI from the original text.
Read in El Economista →