Body Image in the Age of Ozempic

As GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy become mainstream news, many people recovering from diet culture feel a knot of emotions and worry about the state of their body image. Some see these medications as a “quick fix,” while others worry they undermine body acceptance values. No matter where you are in your journey, your feelings are valid. It’s possible to stay true to Health-at-Every-Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating principles even while feeling curiosity about these drugs. At the heart of these movements is body autonomy: your body and choices belong to you. This blog will explain...

• What GLP-1 medications are

• Why they spark such debate

• Whether or not HAES and Intuitive Eating can be compatible with GLP-1s

• How to care for your body image and self-worth in this new landscape

• What to do if you're looking for more support

What are Ozempic and Wegovy, and how do they work?

Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy are part of a new class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, they mimic a gut hormone (GLP-1) that increases feelings of fullness and boosts insulin. In practical terms, they make many people feel fuller longer and eat less (nationaleatingdisorders.org). Clinical reports note an average 15–20% body weight loss in users (health.harvard.edu). These effects happen because GLP-1 drugs slow stomach emptying and change brain reward signals around food (nationaleatingdisorders.org).

Why does all this hype feel so confusing or triggering?

With Ozempic going viral, you might see celebrities and influencers openly celebrating their weight loss. Social media ads pitch these drugs like lifestyle accessories. Even major weight-loss brands (like WeightWatchers) are partnering with GLP-1 clinics. This new marketing wave can feel like diet culture on steroids. Many in the body-positive and HAES community have called it an “affront” to the safe space of body acceptance (washingtonpost.com). For people who have worked hard to reject diets and celebrate diverse bodies, the message that “everyone should be skinny now” hurts.

It’s normal to feel torn. Maybe you feel relief that there’s a medical option for people who want to lose weight. And/or you might feel sadness, fear, or anger that society still equates thinness with value. NEDA (the National Eating Disorders Association) notes that we simply don’t have good research on GLP-1 use in people with eating disorders yet (nationaleatingdisorders.org). What we do know is that these drugs intensify weight stigma and the thin ideal for many, potentially deepening body shame (nationaleatingdisorders.org, austincounselingnutrition.com). In other words, cultural pressure to be thin is on overdrive. It’s understandable if you feel anxiety or guilt even thinking about these drugs.

How does Ozempic fit with HAES and Intuitive Eating?

Let’s be honest: a medication that suppresses appetite, like Ozempic or other GLP-1s, can complicate your relationship with hunger, fullness, and food. Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size® (HAES) both emphasize listening to your body’s cues and supporting your health without obsessing over weight. And yes, that can feel at odds with how these medications work.

By design, GLP-1s override some hunger signals - that’s literally their job. One HAES-aligned dietitian warns that this appetite suppression can “lead individuals away from trusting their bodies and listening to their natural hunger signals,” which can undermine the core of intuitive eating (austincounselingnutrition.com). It can be hard to tell if you’re genuinely full or just “medication full,” and that can make eating feel confusing or disconnected.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Intuitive Eating is suddenly off the table.

Instead, the focus might shift. You can still practice the spirit of Intuitive Eating: tuning into your needs, eating a variety of satisfying foods, moving your body with care, and being gentle with yourself. You might rely more on sensory and emotional cues, like what foods taste good, feel comforting, or give you steady energy, even if hunger feels muted. And working with a therapist or dietitian can help you explore what “listening to your body” means while on medication.

From a HAES perspective, health isn’t proven to improve just because someone loses weight on a drug. Weight is only one piece of health, and people can practice health-promoting behaviors at any size. If someone chooses a medication, HAES would encourage them to continue focusing on joy, movement, and self-care, not just the number on the scale. As one HAES-aligned dietitian explains, instead of fixating on weight, we should emphasize sustainable well-being: intuitive eating, enjoyable activity, stress management, and good sleep (austincounselingnutrition.com).

Regardless of whether or not you're on a GLP-1, this still applies: Intuitive Eating was never meant to be a weight loss method. It’s about rebuilding trust with your body, shifting away from diet culture, and reconnecting with food as something that nourishes, satisfies, and supports your life.

What can I do to care for my body image right now?

Here are some places to start in your day-to-day life:

• Curiosity over judgment: If you find yourself thinking, “I should lose weight,” pause and ask: Where did that idea come from? What does your body actually need right now?

• Focus on health-promoting behaviors, not weight: Try shifting your energy toward behaviors that support your well-being: eating satisfying meals that feel good to your body, moving in joyful ways, getting enough sleep, reducing stress - without tying any of these behaviors to weight loss. Research supports that these habits improve health regardless of whether your weight changes (Bacon & Aphramor, 2011).

• Self-care rituals: Do something kind for your body that has nothing to do with weight. It could be a warm bath, stretching to feel good (not to burn calories), or writing a thank-you note to your body for all it does.

• Affirmations and truths: It may sound cliché, but positive self-talk can rewire old messages. Remind yourself with phrases like “My body deserves love regardless of size,” "My weight is the least interesting thing about me," or “I am listening to what I need, not what I’m told I should be.” Research links intuitive eating to better self-esteem and body image (health.harvard.edu), meaning that trusting yourself often goes hand-in-hand with feeling better about your body.

• Do an audit of your "media diet": Follow body-positive bloggers or activists who discuss these issues. People like Virgie Tovar, Amanda Martinez Beck (The Fat Dispatch), Aubrey Gordon, Tally Rye, and others openly wrestle with these questions, and you’re not alone in feeling conflicted.

“I said to my body, softly, ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath and replied, ‘I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.’” - Nayyirah Waheed

What if I’m still feeling conflicted?

The rise of GLP-1 medications and the renewed celebration of thinness can make you question all of the steps you've taken towards healing your relationship with your body. But your body is not a trend. It is not a before-and-after photo. It is not a problem to be solved.

Your body is your home. And you get to decide how you care for it.

If you’re struggling with body image, disordered eating thoughts, or just feeling overwhelmed by the noise, therapy can help. I offer a weight-neutral, HAES-aligned approach that centers body trust, Intuitive Eating, and person-centered care.

You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn more and see if we’re a good fit.

You deserve peace with your body. At every size, in every season, and in every cultural moment.