With the rise in popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, weight loss discussions are on the rise again. But while some people are open about using drugs to lose weight or losing weight as a result of using drugs to treat a condition like type 2 diabetes, others feel that commenting or speculating about the another person’s body is still taboo.
Barbra Streisand found this out the hard way recently when asked The bridesmaids starring Melissa McCarthy in an Instagram comment if she had been taking Ozempic. Commentators called Streisand’s question rude, though McCarthy herself later called it a victory because it meant the singer and actress thought she looked good.
In the new environment of weight loss, it can be difficult to know how to balance natural curiosity with good manners. Here’s what experts and people whose bodies have changed due to using weight loss drugs have to say.
What is it like to answer these questions?
Kristi Hedrick says she was always taught to respect a person’s privacy, and if you notice someone has lost weight, just be happy for them and congratulate them. But when Hedrick lost 90 pounds after using the drugs Ozempic, Mounjaro and Trulicity as a treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), people started asking questions about how she lost so much weight. It’s taken some getting used to, she tells Yahoo Life, though she adds that she’s never offended when people ask her about her weight loss. That said, Hedrick says she’s certainly not as open with people she doesn’t know well.
When Dustin Gee lost 55 pounds in six months using Wegovy and following the Mayo Clinic diet, he started getting questions like Have you lost weight, right? and what has been your secret? Gee says he doesn’t care. It keeps me motivated and makes me feel accomplished and happy, she tells Yahoo Life. It means that my progress is visible, and this has been a huge boost to my confidence. Most people, he adds, approach the issue with empathy, avoid assumptions, express genuine concern and lead with positive intent.
Similarly, Katy Schuman Clemens, who has used Ozempic and Mounjaro, says she feels supported when people ask her about her 80-pound weight loss and welcomes the opportunity to share how the medication worked for her. , while diet and exercise do not. They usually ask themselves because many of us are obese and have some health problems, he tells Yahoo Life. Clemens says she used to think she was putting on weight because of personal flaws, but since starting weight loss meds, she now sees it much more as a health issue I’m dealing with, and so it’s no longer something she he is ashamed .
However, Clemens doesn’t think it’s always appropriate to ask someone about their weight loss. It depends on your relationship, he says. One of his good friends, for example, recently lost a significant amount of weight due to a serious illness. Sometimes losing weight is really, really bad, so you shouldn’t assume anything about anyone’s weight loss, Clemens notes.
Clemens appreciates when curious people let her lead the conversion by asking open-ended questions that put the ball in her court. For example, Clemens prefers when someone opens the conversation by telling her she looks great or asking how she’s doing without commenting on her weight. He is then free to share as much or as little information as he wants, he says.
What a doctor says
Dr. Andres Acosta, assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic and co-founder of the Phenomix weight loss testing program, tells Yahoo Life that he has seen a recent shift in attitudes toward obesity and weight loss. Increased awareness of obesity as a disease has allowed the disease to be taken seriously, removing much of the shame surrounding it, Acosta says. With new drugs and research, the stigma of obesity as a moral failure and lack of willpower has diminished significantly, and the public has a better understanding of the complexity of the disease. As a result, more people are open to talking about weight loss and more people feel comfortable asking questions.
As a supplier, Ascota believes this is a good thing. Patients are more open to talking about what they’ve tried in the past, and this allows you to tailor weight loss plans to your patients’ needs. However, this does not mean that everyone on the street should start asking questions.
So what’s the new etiquette for asking about weight loss?
Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs have opened a can of communication worms in terms of labeling, label expert Lisa Mirza Grotts tells Yahoo Life. Asking about weight and the use of weight-loss drugs falls into a category of very personal and potentially invasive questions, adds etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore. Grotts agrees. In his opinion, asking someone if they are on Ozempic crosses the line of good behavior.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s always rude to congratulate someone who’s lost weight. Grotts says it’s okay to keep things positive and say, You’re awesome, which opens up the discussion and allows the person who’s lost weight to expand or end the discussion there.
After raising a gentle message for the conversation, pay attention to whether the person chooses to participate, advises Rachel Goldberg, a therapist and founder of Rachel Goldberg Therapy who herself has taken weight-loss drugs. If they respond with a non-committal Oh, OK without further discussion, it’s best to respect their boundaries and not push further, he says.
Goldberg recommends never directly asking about weight-loss medications unless the person taking them brings up the subject first. This could be interpreted as suggesting that they would not be able to achieve weight loss without assistance. Also, they may be taking medication for a health-related condition, and the investigation could lead to a revelation they didn’t want to make, he explains.
If you’re not sure what to say, it’s better to err on the side of caution. While your intent may be innocent curiosity, questions about weight loss could make someone feel uncomfortable, Goldberg adds.
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