Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist drug developed for diabetes patients to control blood sugar levels, and has become “the worst-kept secret in Hollywood.” Originally a medical treatment, it’s now an entertainment-industry weight-loss staple, so common that two in five adult Americans report using a GLP-1 for weight loss.
With stars like Meghan Trainor, Chrissy Teigen and Kelly Clarkson being open about using Ozempic, the rapid normalization of extreme weight loss is becoming impossible to ignore.
However, the concern isn’t just celebrities getting thinner. Registered dietitian and certified eating counselor Sammi Brondo warns we are seeing a “reemergence of thinness we haven't seen since even the ‘90s or ‘00s,” as well as an increase in “weight loss and really thin bodies” stemming from the growth in popularity of GLP-1s. The rise of GLP-1 drugs is fueling a revival of extreme weight loss and eating disorder culture, normalizing emaciation and weakness as standard and desirable.
The body positivity movement, which took off on social media in 2012 and promoted the acceptance of all body types and challenged unrealistic beauty standards, seems to be gone.
In its spring and summer 2025 size inclusivity report, representatives at Vogue Business wrote, “progress has stalled, and we are facing a worrying return to using extremely thin models, amid the Ozempic boom,” while one celebrity stylist said we are “trending backwards.”
There’s never an easy or appropriate way to discuss celebrities' bodies; however, these conversations matter. Seeing thin celebrities shouldn’t be inspiring, instead raising concerns that make us question their health and why this is seen as normal.
Following the release of “Wicked: For Good,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, many were alarmed by their extremely frail bodies at the press tour. While both women are petite, the comparison of before and after the releases of “Wicked” (2024) and “Wicked: For Good” (2025) was obvious and alarming.
Fans have tuned in, commenting on X, “It's downright WEIRD how all three female leads of the Wicked movies look like they haven't eaten solid food in two months. Not healthy!”
These concerns about their looks and weight have begun to overshadow the film itself. Many say it’s difficult to pay attention to the film when their noticeably malnourished appearances go unaddressed. Some even urge others not to see the film, claiming it was a “horror movie visually,” while commenters in response say, “I can’t imagine how triggering it must feel to someone with an ED (eating disorder).”
Other stars, including Natalia Dyer, Lily Collins and Alexa Demie, are reaching the where they appear unhealthy, nearly to the point of malnourishment or starvation. If you tune into award shows, your attention is pulled from stunning outfits and makeup looks to “super-slim waists, thin arms, hollow cheeks and visible collar bones.”
Even athletes, including Serena Williams are open about using GLP-1s, with Williams partnering with Ro, the telehealth company that prescribes the medication. It’s disappointing and jarring to see a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, someone defined by strength and power, still feel pressured to be thin.
British actress Jameela Jamil recently spoke out about the use of GLP-1s and extreme weight loss in Hollywood, even stating William’s campaign made her “uncomfortable.”
Jamil, who struggled with an eating disorder herself, criticized the “apparent glorification of extreme thinness in Hollywood” on TikTok and said, “It is not body-shaming to comment on the fact that there is a rapid rise of the aesthetic of emaciation amongst women in Hollywood.” Jamil also called attention to the bigger issue of harmful beauty standards and the disappearance of body positivity movements.
Professionals say eating disorders are intensely competitive, with people striving to be the sickest and push the limits of extreme weight loss methods. This rise of extremely thin celebrities all over Hollywood, who treat their starved appearances as conventional, enhances this dangerous, competitive culture. Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at eating disorder charity Beat, warns celebrities to refrain from “promoting unhealthy diet or exercise behaviours as this could lead to people copying them and risking their health.”
It’s crucial to recognize that the extremely thin and frail appearances of celebrities aren’t standard, and we cannot allow this beauty standard to continue. Rapid weight loss and emaciated bodies shouldn’t be seen as inspiration, and no one’s body should be expected to look like this.
Ozempic, paired with the return of shockingly thin bodies, is a huge warning sign pushing us backward. When celebrities we admire begin to look weaker and smaller, it reshapes the standards we see as normal. We can’t afford to slip back into a world where thinness equals worth.
As Hollywood’s unchecked use of GLP-1s fuels extreme weight loss, the industry will keep glorifying dangerous skinniness and weakness, reshaping beauty standards in harmful ways.
Abby Shriver is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Abby about their column? Email them at as064024@ohio.edu
