WHY IS EVERYONE IN AN UPROAR ABOUT GLP-1s

First It Was Weight-Loss Surgery, Now It's the Shots

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) shurkin_son / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Let’s be honest, society has always had something to say about the bodies of plus-size people. When we were just existing, we were told we weren’t trying hard enough. When some decided to pursue weight-loss surgery, they were accused of “taking the easy way out.” And now that GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are helping people lose weight, the uproar continues.

It’s ironic, when you’re plus size, you’re told to get healthy, but when you take action, you’re met with judgment and side-eyes. So let’s get one thing straight: This is personal. Whether you choose surgery, shots, or nothing at all, that decision belongs to you and no one else.

So What Are GLP-1s, Anyway?

GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) are medications originally used to manage type 2 diabetes. But researchers discovered they also suppress appetite and slow digestion, leading to significant weight loss in many users. Now, they’re being prescribed for obesity and weight management, and yes people are seeing results.

But let’s be real: these meds are not magic. They aren’t a shortcut to “skinny,” and they don’t work in isolation. Just like weight-loss surgery, they are tools, not a cure. If you’re not also making changes in your lifestyle like adjusting your eating habits, moving your body in ways that work for you, and addressing emotional or psychological roots of eating, the results can plateau or even reverse. And that’s normal. Human bodies are complex, not math problems.

This Isn’t About Being Skinny, It’s About Health

Here’s what the mainstream conversation often misses: not everyone taking these medications or pursuing weight-loss surgery wants to be a size 2. Not everyone is trying to conform to society’s beauty standards. For many plus-size men and women, these choices come from a place of self-love, not self-hate. It’s about reclaiming agency over our health, especially in a system that’s often biased against us.

Choosing to prioritize your blood pressure, your mobility, your joint pain, your energy levels, or your sleep apnea isn’t “selling out.” It’s choosing yourself. It’s being tired of being dismissed at the doctor’s office. It’s about knowing that your worth isn’t tied to your weight and that you can love yourself fiercely and want to change.

And What If the Weight Comes Back?

Here’s the truth that many people don’t want to say out loud: some folks regain the weight after surgery or stop taking the shots and gain some back. So what? That doesn’t mean they failed. That doesn’t mean they didn’t try. And it absolutely doesn’t mean they deserve shame.

Bodies change. Circumstances change. Mental health fluctuates. Medications can become unaffordable. Life happens. What someone does with their body and what their body does in response is their business.

We don’t shame people for needing antidepressants again. We don’t ridicule people when they need reading glasses after laser eye surgery. But for some reason, society feels entitled to ridicule and analyze plus-size people when they gain weight, as if it’s a scandal. It’s not. It’s life.

Respect People’s Choices

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health. Some will choose surgery. Some will take GLP-1s. Some will go the natural route with food and exercise. Some will do nothing and still live full, vibrant lives.

And guess what? All of those choices are valid. Every person deserves dignity, respect, and access to healthcare that affirms their autonomy. What we don’t need is more policing of our bodies, more diet culture propaganda, or more noise from people who don’t know our stories.

So the next time you hear someone debating whether GLP-1s are “cheating,” ask yourself: Why do I feel entitled to comment on someone else’s health journey?

At the end of the day, this isn’t about fitting into a smaller pair of jeans. This is about liberation. About freedom from shame. About plus-size people, especially women and men who’ve been marginalized, taking control of their wellness in whatever way makes sense for them.

And that’s nobody’s business but their own.