Is it okay to ask someone if they are taking Ozempic?

Registered counselor Georgina Sturmer says it’s rarely, if ever, okay to ask someone about weight loss or weight gain.

He thinks questions about whether you’ve managed to lose weight with medication are also off limits.

The way we feel about our bodies and the way we look is deeply complex and personal, she explains. It’s built on so many layers, like the messages we heard growing up, our interactions with friends, family and romantic partners, and societal expectations about what is and isn’t considered attractive.

Because our shape and size are part of who we are, Sturmer says questions about them can be deeply personal.

They can make you feel like your body is public property, and they often come across as a judgment on who we are as a person, she suggests.

Psychotherapist Kamalyn Kaur agrees. Commenting on weight loss is insensitive because weight can be a sensitive topic for so many people and is often tied to self-esteem, body image, self-esteem, past traumas, childhood memories and even medical conditions, he notes. Asking can bring up painful and uncomfortable feelings, past or present.

If you’ve used weight-loss medications, questions about your weight loss may seem especially intrusive.

It can feel like they are making an assumption or judgment about your decisions, lifestyle, habits and health, Kaur reasons. You may feel criticized, judged and inferior, and as if you are doing something wrong or inappropriate.

Sturmer notes that when people comment on weight loss, it’s often framed as a compliment. You could ask someone: Have you lost weight? You look fantastic!

While these comments may seem innocent and well-intentioned, Sturmer says they are inherently embarrassing.

There is an implicit suggestion that weight loss is something to be curious about, something to be praised. We discuss it in a way that we don’t publicly discuss weight gain because the suggestion is that weight gain is something to be ashamed of, she notes.

If someone has lost weight and someone else points it out, it can make them worry about how they looked before and whether other people talked about it then, she added. It can make them feel worried or anxious about gaining weight again, and how people might respond to that, she adds.

Feelings of embarrassment, shame, and added pressure can be common for people who are faced with these questions.

You may feel embarrassed and worried about other people’s views of your body shape or weight loss, and that shame about your body can lead to a sense of shame about who you are, Sturmer says.

In turn, she says this can add weight to any negative thoughts you already have about yourself and have an impact on your confidence and self-esteem.

If you’ve recently lost weight, you may find it hard to avoid questions like these. You may also find that people assume you’ve taken a medication like Ozempic, whether or not that’s the case.

How can you prepare for this type of feedback? First of all, remember that you have a right to privacy, says Sturmer.

No one has the right to know your private medical information, and that’s exactly it, he notes. If you see it as private personal information, it will be easier for you to decline other people’s questions if you want to.

It can also be helpful to think about the perspective of the person asking these questions. People ask about weight loss for all kinds of reasons, for example, curiosity or because it projects their own insecurities.

Sturmer says a culture of Ozempic shaming has also emerged, where people criticize others for using drugs in this way.

It’s helpful to remember the motivation behind the question, she notes. Did they set out to make you squirm or feel uncomfortable? Or maybe they were just making small talk or paying a well-meaning compliment.

Whatever your motivation, Sturmer says it’s important to remember that you can’t control what other people think or feel. Often, their comments are more a reflection on them than on you.

How exactly should you answer if questions like these make you uncomfortable? There’s no right or wrong way, but it can be helpful to have a few phrases up your sleeve.

Kaur advises saying something like, I appreciate your concern, but I prefer to keep my medical information private, or, I understand your curiosity, but I’d rather not get into that right now.

If you do want to respond, Kaur says keep it short, concise and to the point, and make sure you stick to your personal boundaries.

Only share what you feel comfortable sharing, and don’t hesitate to stop the conversation if you start to feel uncomfortable with the questions, she advises.

If you’re using a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic or Wegovy as part of your weight loss plan and want to address it, Kaur advises using a phrase like: I’m making some changes to support my health, and my doctor or doctor prescribed this for me. medication as part of this plan.

Ultimately, Kaur says asking questions about a person’s weight loss and how they might have achieved it is intrusive because everyone has the right to control their own body and health decisions.

You shouldn’t put someone in the uncomfortable position of answering a personal question or pressure them to justify their actions, he says.

If you’re worried about being asked awkward questions, it can be helpful to have some answers prepared.