With awards season in full swing, an alarming trend appears to be sweeping the red carpet – already-slender celebrities appearing to endorse the use of weight-loss jabs.
Last weekend’s SAG Awards saw a number of celebs looking noticeably slimmer than usual as they headed out to celebrate Hollywood’s great and good. This weekend’s Oscars are also likely to be awash with slimline stars.
Oscar-winner Kathy Bates revealed she used the jabs to help with her 100lb weight loss. Oprah Winfrey, Rebel Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg and Sharon Osbourne have also been open about the help they’ve received from weight-loss jabs when it came to shifting the pounds.
And, while not all have spoken favourable about the drug, psychologists have told ED! that they’re worried about the impact that seeing already-slender celebrities shedding even more pounds could have on average members of the public…
Weight-loss jabs branded ‘a major health concern’
Psychologist Ieva Kubiliute, who runs the It’s Me and You Clinic, told ED!: “The widespread use of weight-loss jabs among celebrities has become a major health concern. I see it as a psychological shift with serious implications.
“I see this trend as more than just another weight-loss fad. It represents a dangerous rebranding of extreme thinness, now disguised as medical advancement. Unlike past diet trends, the jabs present weight loss as clinical, even responsible, despite its potential dangers. I believe this distinction makes it more insidious, socially acceptable, and ultimately, more influential.”
She added: “For everyday people, especially younger audiences, the message is clear that thinness is no longer just aspirational. It’s now just a prescription away. This medicalisation of beauty standards can distort how individuals perceive their own bodies. When weight loss is presented as quick and effortless, it invalidates the realities of genetics, metabolism and sustainable health. It fuels the dangerous belief that body size is simply a problem to be solved with the right drug.”
Ieva then concluded: “Even more troubling, I find that the normalisation of the drugs strip away the nuances of self-worth. If celebrities who already fit impossible beauty standards feel the need to shrink even further, what hope is left for the average person?
“My take here is that the psychological toll is immense and manifests as heightened body dissatisfaction, increased disordered eating behaviours, and a culture that sees bodies as projects in need of constant fixing.”
‘Deeply troubling’
She isn’t the only one who feels that way. Barbara Santini, a psychologist and sex and relationships adviser, told ED! she finds the move towards the use of jabs to aid weight loss as “deeply troubling”.
“I find the weight-loss jab trend among celebrities deeply troubling, not just for its potential health implications but for the insidious message it sends. It’s not simply about wanting to look thin, but the achievability of that thinness.
“Suddenly, we see that rapid weight loss isn’t the result of grueling workouts or restrictive diets but a seemingly simple injection. This bypasses the hard work and the self-discipline. And it’s that process that’s so crucial for developing a healthy relationship with one’s body.
“I believe it creates a dangerous illusion that weight loss is effortless, a magic bullet. And it further fuels the unrealistic expectations already rampant in our image-obsessed culture.”
Barbara added: “What worries me most is the impact on young people. They see these celebrities, often presented as aspirational figures, achieving dramatic transformations with apparent ease. This can lead to a sense of profound inadequacy, a feeling that their own bodies are failing them.
In turn, she added: “It can normalise the idea that medication is the answer, bypassing the essential work of self-acceptance and healthy lifestyle choices.
“And this isn’t about shaming anyone’s choices. Rather, I believe it’s about recognising the potential for harm, particularly for vulnerable individuals whose self-esteem is still developing.
“We risk creating a generation that prioritises quick fixes over holistic well-being. And a generation that views their bodies as projects to be optimised rather than vessels to be cherished. I am worried since the long-term consequences of this mindset could be devastating.”
‘Celebrity culture plays a significant role’
Fiona Yassin, a child, adolescent and family psychotherapist and founder of The Wave Clinic, agrees. And, worryingly, she told us that a number of under-16s have been into her clinic asking for weight-loss jabs.
“We are seeing more young people seeking help here at The Wave Clinic who are using or considering these drugs. Alarmingly, many of them are under 16. The growing use of weight-loss medication among individuals at high risk for developing eating disorders – or those already diagnosed – is deeply concerning.”
She then continued: “Sadly our culture glorifies certain body shapes and sizes. So when someone changes their appearance, they often receive positive feedback, which reinforces these behaviours. This is a clear byproduct of our diet-obsessed society.”
She also warned of the risk of the drugs being available on the black market.
Social media and celebrity culture plays a significant role.
“As weight-loss medications become more accessible – through both legal and black-market channels – the risks grow. These drugs are now easily available online without medical oversight, making them accessible to vulnerable adults, those with co-occurring mental health conditions, and even children.”
Fiona continued: “Social media and celebrity culture plays a significant role. A quick scroll through Instagram shows celebrities visibly altering their bodies, often sparking speculation about the use of weight-loss jabs.
“I recently saw an image of a well-known celebrity on social media whose drastically smaller physique sparked discussion among many users. The comments on the post ranged from speculation over the use of weight-loss jabs and compliments, to outright criticism and judgement.
“For some, seeing the physical changes – especially those that society has come to idealise – and the attention they bring, can drive the desire to replicate the same results, despite the risks. This visibility creates a feedback loop – people using the drug, becoming more noticeable and others wanting to follow suit.”
‘Biggest concern’ over weight-loss jabs
Fiona continued: “My biggest concern is that we’re normalising the use of potent and powerful medications to lose weight. This goes completely against the goal of dismantling diet culture and reducing stigma around bodies of all shapes and sizes.
“On one hand, some retailers are embracing diversity by featuring models of varying shapes, sizes and cultural backgrounds. On the other hand, weight-loss jabs are becoming widely available. And their use is being normalised as if it’s the same as taking paracetamol.
“When we think about the traditional parameters for eating disorders, they often include an overvaluation of weight, shape and size, along with a preoccupation with food and body-related matters. Another critical symptom is the inability for the individual suffering to perceive the severity of the illness. Even when family, friends or social media comments point out unhealthy changes, someone in the grip of an eating disorder often can’t see it themselves.
“As a result, more people are likely to seek out what they view as a solution to their discomfort. Unfortunately, this creates a vicious cycle. The increasing availability of weight-loss medications, both legally and through unregulated channels, exacerbates the problem.
“Even if stricter licensing were introduced today, the effects of this widespread accessibility would likely persist for some time.”
Read more: Katie Price puts 27-stone son Harvey on weight-loss jabs to ‘save his life’
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