A Thin Line

Ozempic and Wegovy, brand names for the drug semaglutide, were initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes. They help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. However, a notable side effect—rapid weight loss—has led to their increasing cosmetic use for managing body weight. As of 2023, these drugs are approved for use in children as young as 12 and are increasingly being used by teenagers for weight management. These developments have caused some to worry that the widespread availability of 1semaglutide for teenagers might exacerbate toxic beauty standards. In a society already saturated with messages glorifying thinness, offering a medical route for rapid weight loss could reinforce harmful ideas about body image. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to societal pressures, and normalizing the use of weight loss drugs among teens may further entrench beliefs that thinness somehow equates to worthiness, health, wealth, or status. Critics worry that such drugs might shift focus away from promoting overall well-being and self-acceptance toward achieving an idealized body type. They argue that instead of treating a medical condition as it’s intended, semaglutide could become a tool for meeting societal expectations, with potential psychological consequences for teenagers who feel pressured to conform. Additionally, the cost of semaglutide is prohibitive for many families, raising issues of equity. If only those with financial resources can access the drug, its availability may deepen existing disparities, privileging wealthier teens while leaving others without comparable options for weight management.   On the other hand, it’s important to recognize the importance of personal autonomy. Advocates for continued access to the drug point out that  individuals, regardless of age, should have the right to make choices about their bodies, particularly if those choices improve their self-esteem or mental health. For teenagers struggling with body image or bullying related to weight, access to semaglutide might provide a path to confidence and a better quality of life. It is also important to consider that, for some teens, losing weight is not only about self-esteem but also about access to public space and medical care. Weight stigma and discrimination have well-documented negative health consequences. Proponents contend that 2denying access to a drug that could significantly improve both physical and mental health might be paternalistic and dismissive of individual needs. Besides, the drug ought to be available for its original intended purpose, treating type-2 diabetes, and restricting access based on how it might be abused could put lives at risk.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.Is there anything wrong with wanting your body to look a certain way? Does a person’s reason for desiring a certain look matter?

2.Are there important moral differences between prescribing weight loss drugs to adults, teenagers, and children?

3.Is making weight loss easier and more accessible a good response to the problems of weight stigma and anti-fat bias?

4.Do governments or drug companies have any responsibility to ensure that people have access to new drugs that could be beneficial to their health?

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/weight-loss-drugs-teens-ozempic-wegovy-kids-rcna1396871 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/obesity-discrimination-in-healthcare#summary213