Lizzo has expressed her concerns regarding the cultural influence of Ozempic on plus-size women as the drug’s use becomes more widespread.
The 37-year-old artist also shared insights into her personal weight loss journey, discussing her initial struggles with mental health and reaffirming her identity as a ‘proud big girl’.
While Ozempic is primarily prescribed for managing type 2 diabetes by helping maintain blood sugar levels, it is not officially approved as a weight loss medication.
Nonetheless, one of the side effects of this medication is appetite suppression, which, along with diet and exercise, can aid in weight loss. Recent years have seen a significant increase in private prescriptions for the drug.
Statistics from last year indicate that around one in eight U.S. adults have used a GLP-1 drug similar to Ozempic.
Lizzo voiced her concern that the growing popularity of Ozempic might be impacting the body positivity movement.
She published an essay on her Substack on November 23 titled ‘Why is everybody losing weight and what do we do? Sincerely, a person who’s lost weight’.
“So here we are halfway through the decade, where extended sizes are being magically erased from websites,” she commented. “Plus-sized models are no longer getting booked for modeling gigs.”
Lizzo pointed out that even models labeled as ‘plus size’ often do not reflect the reality of being plus-sized, stating: “And all of our big girls are not-so-big anymore.”
Referencing the film Bridget Jones’ Diary, she highlighted how Bridget is depicted as ‘comically overweight’ despite not being overweight by most standards.
“We have a lot of work to do, to undo the effects of the Ozempic boom,” Lizzo stated.
She also addressed her personal weight loss journey, responding to past speculations about her using Ozempic.
“People could not see my talent as a musician because they were too busy accusing me of making ‘being fat’ my whole personality,” the singer wrote. “I had to actively work against ‘mammy’ tropes by being hypersexual and vulgar because being a mammy by definition is being desexualized.”
She continued: “And that’s the reality that nobody wants to talk about. We’re in an era where the bigger girls are getting smaller because they’re tired of being judged.”
Lizzo also voiced her thoughts on the body positivity movement, suggesting it has become too commercialized.
“I want us to allow the body positive movement to expand and grow far away from the commercial slop it’s become,” she expressed. “Because movements move.”
Contact has been made with Novo Nordisk, Ozempic’s manufacturer, for their perspective.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.