“Ozempic face,” “Ozempic butt,” “Ozempic breath,” even “Ozempic feet” — as those using GLP-1 medications for weight loss probably already know, people can be tough on them, even with the skyrocketing popularity of the drugs. Just look at all the viral terms that are popping up to describe someone’s specific GLP-1-related weight loss and side effects.
While the number of overweight and obese adults prescribed GLP-1 medications for weight loss increased 587% between 2019 and 2024, according to the nonprofit Fair Health, a new study from Rice University published in the International Journal of Obesity found that social judgments extend beyond whether you lose weight or not, but also to how you do it.
“We expected there might be some stigma around using a GLP-1,” Erin Standen, assistant professor of psychological sciences at Rice University, said in a statement. “But what surprised us was the extent of it.”
Losing weight with a GLP-1 could come with more stigma than not losing any at all, a new study found.
What the study found
The study, published on April 3, asked participants to evaluate the weight-related history of a fictional person who either lost weight through the use of a GLP-1, lost weight through traditional diet and exercise only, or did not lose any weight.
To the authors’ surprise, respondents reported viewing those who used GLP-1 medication more negatively than those who lost weight through traditional methods or not at all.
“There’s this idea that if you lose weight, you might escape stigma,” Standen said. “But what we’re seeing is that people may face judgment at multiple points. They may be judged for their weight and for how they choose to manage it.”
Stigma around regaining weight, too
The second part of the study, which evaluated stigma around regaining weight, was more forgiving to GLP-1 users. Studies have shown that people who stop using a GLP-1 often regain lost pounds, an issue many contend with as prohibitively expensive name-brand medications continue to dominate a market without mainstream generic alternatives or widespread insurance coverage.
As any dieter knows, fluctuations and regain can happen. Survey respondents were still quick to judge the fictional people for regaining weight, but they didn’t seem to care whether they had used GLP-1s or followed a diet and exercise regimen to lose it in the first place.
“There’s a lot of stigma tied to weight regain in general, and that doesn’t seem to depend much on how the weight was lost in the first place,” said Standen. “There’s such a strong cultural script around weight and what a ‘healthy’ body should look like. And those messages can get in the way of people doing what’s actually best for them.”
Social pressure can impact healthcare decisions, warns study author
As GLP-1 medications continue to proliferate far and wide, from newly-released pill versions to Amazon offering fresh avenues to fill prescriptions, Standen said understanding the social implications is a vital piece of the puzzle.
“If people feel judged for the choices they’re making about their health, that can influence what they’re willing to do,” she said. “It can affect whether they seek care, whether they talk openly with providers and how they manage their health overall.”
Though GLP-1s have often been described as a boon to managing obesity rate in the U.S., the idea that they are an “easy way out” persists, said Standen and fellow study authors Sean Phelan, professor of health services research at the Mayo Clinic, and Janet Tomiyama, professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
“It is critical to understand and mitigate stigma associated with GLP-1 cessation and weight regain, as it has the potential to undermine people’s well-being and discourage them from seeking healthcare,” said the study. “There is, therefore, a clear need for interventions that address the stigma associated with using GLP-1s for weight loss.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GLP-1 users face increased judgment for weight-loss, study finds
