GLP-1s reshape bodies and fashion industry norms

The widespread availability of GLP-1 weight-loss medications is prompting a cultural reckoning, with experts examining how these drugs are reshaping not just individual bodies but also the fashion industry and the broader body positivity movement.

Katie Baker Jones, an associate professor and program coordinator for the Fashion Design and Merchandising program at West Virginia University, draws parallels between the current moment and past diet crazes. However, she notes a key distinction: GLP-1s represent a medical intervention rather than a simple lifestyle change. She compares the phenomenon to the rise of gastric bypass surgery, where a major medical procedure rapidly and drastically altered bodies.

This intersection of medicine and fashion creates a unique challenge, according to Jones. Fashion journalism, traditionally seen as lighthearted, now must grapple with heavily scientific topics. The collision of these worlds raises questions about how lifestyle media can adequately cover medical interventions.

Jones points to consumer reactions when celebrities known for body positivity, such as Lizzo or Mindy Kaling, discuss using GLP-1s. Fans who connected with these figures for representing average bodies may feel a disconnect when those same individuals embrace weight loss and new ways of dressing. Conversely, commentary on celebrities like Ariana Grande shows how expressed concern about a body can snowball into the same pressures the body positivity movement sought to counter.

The conversation also touches on access and equity. First-person accounts have highlighted the different experiences of those who need GLP-1s for medical reasons versus those using them as a diet aid. Wealth and connections can determine access, while shortages have real consequences for those who depend on the medication.

Jones observes that coverage of the trend has not been a full endorsement but rather an exploration of implications. A central concern is that the drugs could undo a decade of work in the body positivity movement, which had led to a wider range of bodies on runways and more work for curve models.

Now, with the drugs widely available, designers appear to be recruiting thinner models. There has been a marked decrease in the use of curve models, defined by the industry as anything above a size four. Retailers have even speculated about reducing orders for larger sizes, presuming everyone will be on the medication.

The economic ripple effects extend beyond clothing. Jones notes the additional commerce surrounding rapid weight loss, including skin-tightening procedures and nutrient infusions. The drug itself is just one part of a larger ecosystem of products and services that emerge from this cultural shift.