What if a single drug could rewrite society’s cherished standards of beauty?
This is a provocative question posed by 27-year-old PhD student Nina King. Theories about the cultural influence of Ozempic, a weight loss drug developed to treat type 2 diabetes, spread rapidly. 6.4 million views This sparked a heated debate among online viewers.
King said on TikTok on Nov. 18 that Ozempic’s growing popularity and predicted accessibility could upend thinness as the ultimate beauty ideal – a shift driven by economics. suggested that.
Drawing parallels to the 17th-century spice trade, she explained to digital viewers the “snob effect,” where demand for a product by the rich and ruling class declines after it becomes widely available.
“I have a theory about how increased access to Ozempic could lead to a complete reversal of modern beauty standards,” New England-based King wrote in a three-minute post. . “I got there thinking about the spice trade in the 17th century.”
she said newsweek: “When I post my theories and opinions online, it’s not because I think they’re unequivocally right. I always act with curiosity and try to keep an open mind. ”
As spices became common in Europe, flavorful foods became a hobby of the lower classes, and the upper classes shifted their focus to keeping food warm. Similarly, whenever food was scarce, physical plumpness was desired to symbolize wealth.
In today’s world of affordable, high-calorie processed foods, the cost of gym memberships, nutritionists, and organic produce has made thinness a marker of wealth.
If Ozempic becomes affordable to the masses, its thinness could lose its appeal as a status symbol, King said.
@bitch_farm / Nina King / Getty Images
Similar drugs such as Ozempic and Wigovy have gained public attention for their dramatic weight loss effects. These GLP-1 receptor agonists were initially approved for the management of type 2 diabetes, but gained attention in 2022 after reports of celebrity use.
But the buzz has been tempered by concerns about health risks, including gastrointestinal side effects, rapid muscle loss, and possible misuse. Too high a dose can cause seizures and hospitalization.
Dr. Cynthia Edwards Hover, a licensed psychologist, sees a dark meaning in Ozempic’s popularity.
“I’m concerned that as this drug becomes more available, we’ll see an increase in anorexia,” said Dr. Edwards Hover. newsweek. “Once your weight falls below a certain level, your brain’s obsession begins to drive you to lose more weight, even if there are serious health risks such as heart failure.
“We’ve worked hard to embrace body positivity, but now it feels like we’re retreating into a dangerous ideal of thinness.”
King believes the ripple effects could be felt quickly, as Medicare price negotiations are expected to bring Ozempic’s cost down significantly by 2025.
“Soon, Ozempic will become much more accessible to the average consumer. So, given the snobbery effect, when the working class has access to a large number of thin beauty standards, beauty standards will “I think it’s going to change rapidly accordingly,” says Professor King, who is focusing on a PhD in English. Discussed women’s fitness from social and cultural perspectives.
“What direction are we going to go in? I don’t know, but we’re putting money into the fact that anything that’s going to be desirable in the future is going to be expensive to maintain.”
Aside from future cultural impact, plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Baumholtz echoes Edwards Hover’s concerns about the drug’s current popularity.
“The pendulum has swung from body positivity to a narrow focus on weight loss,” Baumholtz said. newsweek. “While these changes can boost confidence, they risk reinforcing homogenizing standards tied to celebrity aesthetics.
“I have seen patients pursue rapid weight loss with GLP-1 drugs only to seek surgical correction of sagging skin and irregular contours.”
Like Edwards-Hover, Baumholtz says this can create unhealthy feedback loops.
We’re still in the early stages of this transformation,” Baumholtz added, “but one thing is clear: the hype around these drugs is already redefining beauty and increasing body diversity. “This raises important questions about how to evaluate
King leaves the conversation open-ended, reflecting her own approach. The British student-turned-content creator doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but she is adamant that beauty standards always reflect dynamics of power and privilege.
“The hype around these drugs is very real and is changing the conversation about weight, health and beauty,” Baumholz said. “Let’s see how everything goes.”
