Using GLP-1s to improve health: Fear of fat and “obesity” discourse

GLP-1 agonists, initially approved for Type-2 diabetes and other medical issues, are now prescribed to individuals labeled “overweight” and “obese” for weight loss. Our research examines the motivations of 30 women who used GLP-1s for weight loss. In interviews, participants overwhelmingly discussed using GLP-1s to address health concerns. In addition, survey results revealed higher-than-average scores on the fear of fat subscale of the Anti-Fat Attitudes scale, prompting us to examine this finding more deeply. We uncovered subtle differences in how participants contextualized their health concerns, with those with higher fears of fat reporting conversations about weight loss with medical providers more often than other participants, along with being slightly less resource-advantaged than those with lower levels of fear of fatness. Our results demonstrate participants’ trust in the medical model of “obesity,” affecting their consumption of weight loss medications.