For midsize creators, these wildly popular weight-loss drugs pose unique questions. FDA-approved for treating obesity, as well as other conditions, including sleep apnea, the medications are increasingly being used off-label by people who don’t qualify based on factors like their BMI (which has long been a controversial measure of health, FWIW). I know many women who don’t need to lose weight for health reasons but wonder if they should give GLP-1s a shot—and of course, some content creators are feeling the pull too. “For years the pressure to lose weight had been dwindling, but now it’s ramped back up,” says midsize fashion creator Meghan Korte, one of my first and favorite follows in the category. “I think every single woman feels more pressure than they did, say, three years ago, regardless of their size.”
There’s definitely been a feeling of whiplash, says Taryn Hicks, a size-14 creator with 1.2 million followers on Instagram as of publishing. “The body-positivity movement feels like it just happened yesterday, and we were fighting for body diversity in brands a couple of years ago. Now we’re moving backward again,” she says. “As people are getting smaller, I’m seeing sizing ranges shrink. I’ve had to cut ties with brands because a size large is now the largest size offered, when they previously had at least up to an XXL. It’s jolting.” Stylist and content creator Pilar Scratch, who’s midsize herself, puts it bluntly: “The pressure [to get smaller] never left; it just took a lunch break. Now it’s back—with a prescription pad.”
Shrinking influencers and celebrities
The evidence is everywhere. It seems each week we see another celebrity step onto the red carpet looking notably smaller, including ones who (previously) appeared to be midsize. Last year Amy Schumer and Meghan Trainor said they lost 50 and 60 pounds, respectively, with the help of GLP-1s. Serena Williams also recently shared that she used one to lose more than 30 pounds. They all faced criticism, in part because they’d previously spoken out about body positivity.
So what could using weight-loss drugs mean for midsize creators, who have literally built brands and communities centered around not trying to become smaller? We’re watching the answer emerge in real time. A number of these influencers are using GLP-1s—some quietly, some loudly, and some with a sponsored link to a website offering their medication of choice—and their audiences are noticing. “I have watched several midsize creators shrink right out of their own brand positioning within months,” Scratch says. “Some are transparent about using GLP-1s. Others post ‘health journey’ content and magically drop two dress sizes between Target hauls.”