Alexa, play “Queen” because AI on social media has us like,“Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy?” Body filters and face filters are literally being used on live streams now, making it even harder to discern reality in real-time.  On top of that, images of celebrities who’ve had work  and treatments done remain everpresent in our feeds.

All of these mirages put pressure on the psyche, triggering conditions like body dysmorphia, mental health challenges, and disordered eating habits. Without a doubt, filters compel our brains to think a certain way (Frontiers in Psychology, 2023). Everyday images are flashed in our faces, and they all seem to say. “Be this way.” So, we remain stuck in a loop of profitable comparisons. All the while, we’re being sold products, and companies are selling out.

For instance, since 2022, semaglutide, better known as Ozempic, is an FDA-approved treatment for type 2 diabetes that’s often used for weight loss. And unsurprisingly, it has been on the drug shortage list due to increased demand.

Ozempic is a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin. It slows stomach emptying, and it also increases feelings of fullness. Although Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, this medication can be prescribed for it.

Upon being injected into your thigh, abdomen, or arm once a week,  Ozempic slows stomach digestion.  It’s in a class of medications called “GLP (Glugogen-like peptide)-1 receptor agonists” or “GLP-1 medications” for short. These medications mimic a hormone released from the digestive tract called glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), which helps lower blood sugar and promotes a feeling of fullness (Cleaveland Health Clinic, July 2024). 

While Ozempic has shown to be an effective treatment for patients, the Food and Drug Administration is looking into several possible health issues or side effects. And In July 2024, there were 111 active lawsuits in the class action product liability lawsuit againstGLP-1 RAs (Miller & Zois, LLC, 2024). By August, this number had risen to 346, an increase of 235 active cases over the month. So, that is an over 200% jump in a single month(Miller & Zois, LLC, 2024).

To be even more specific,  as of August 2024, there were 8 personal injury lawsuits in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for gastroparesis, ileus, and intestinal blockage or obstruction (MDL 3094; Miller & Zois, LLC, 2024). 

Cleveland Health Clinic states that “Gastroparesis is a chronic condition where the nerves and muscles in the stomach wall severely weaken. This weakening makes it more difficult for the stomach to transfer food to the small intestine. Results of gastroparesis include intestinal blockages or obstruction, and it often leads to nausea and diarrhea.

Furthermore, gastroparesis can’t be cured, and it can only be managed medically and surgically. This means that anyone who has developed this condition is potentially facing a lifetime of medical interventions.”

These claims are only alleged, and Ozempic is an FDA-approved product.  However, most of the lawsuits are being made on the basis that Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, implemented aggressive marketing but failed to provide warnings of certain risks(Miller & Zois, LLC, 2024). 

It’s true that Ozempic has made a marked difference in weight loss treatment, and some say it’s able to change how patients think of food and that it can also improve eating habits. Because weight is a complex relationship between genetics, psychology, lifestyle, hormones, metabolic networks, and environmental factors, many clinicians contend that it makes weight loss more accessible for people who have not seen substantial results from diet and exercise. 

It affords them a better option. However, many non-overweight patients are taking Ozempic for cosmetic reasons, meaning motivations that have more to do with appearance. So, are we conflating real health with a certain look or a fantasy?

Yes, being healthy is important. But as the images we see every day become more surreal, it’s important to refocus on health and to scrutinize what it truly means, not just the generated image we want it to look like. Striving toward a specific aesthetic is a personal choice, but it’s also important to focus on boundaries and health.