Mini-sode: Fat phobia & The Rise Of GLP-1s

In last week's episode, I shared that fatphobia has always stemmed from the belief that weight is mostly controlled by diet and exercise. It’s why we’ve been subjected to decades of diet programs, products and books focused on calories in and calories out. It has also perpetuated the narrative that if you “try hard enough” you can also be thin, or manage your weight. With the rise in use of GLP-1s for weight loss, and the ease at which people can access them privately with very little screening – we’ve watched as diet talk has shifted from how many calories someone is eating to whether it’s an injection day and they’re going to crap themselves.Seriously. These are the casual, and dangerous conversations happening across social media. And whilst my personal view is these drugs are going to cause more harm in the longterm, I also know people are prescribed this medication for health reasons, and they deserve access to the healthcare their body needs.In today’s mini episode we’re going to explore how we went from the rise and decline of body positivity in the 2010s to ‘thin is in’ and how this is leading to an increasingly fatphobic society. We’ll also talk about how politics, and facism play a part in this rhetoric, and why it’s going to cause more harm, not just for fat folks, in the long term.Takeaways:There is a correlation between the rise in GLP-1s and the rise in fatphobia.Fatphobia is more complex than just a fear of fat people.The diet industry thrives on control and fear.Weight loss drugs are marketed as an act of self-care.Fatness is not a choice, and it is not a moral failing.Unlearning fatphobia is crucial for mental health.Diet behaviors go beyond just counting calories.The rise in fatphobia is a system designed to fail.Internalised fatphobia has nowhere to go after weight loss.The marketing of weight loss drugs reinforces fatphobic attitudes.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Fatphobia and GLP-1s01:59 Understanding Fatphobia: Definitions and Misconceptions04:21 The Role of Diet Culture and Weight Loss Drugs06:37 Marketing Tactics and the Perception of Weight Loss08:27 Political Instability and the Rise of Fatphobia10:25 The Impact of Weight Loss on Fatphobia12:13 Internalized Fatphobia and Its Consequences14:13 Fashion Rules and Body Image15:42 Conclusion: Unlearning Fatphobia for Better HealthThank you for listening to The Culture Of It All! this podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive early posts, bonus material and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber on Substack. Come say 'hello' on social media! You'll find episode content on Instagram stories. Looking for more conversations around the politics of fashion? Join me on TikTok Until next time, pals — keep showing up, speaking up, and taking up space.