America’s Obsession with Being Skinny

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Obesity in America remains a major issue despite societal beauty standards of thinness being pushed on social media. Since the 1990s, the obesity rates in America have gone up, where now almost 3 in 4 Americans are considered overweight. This number is only predicted to increase through 2050. Even with this high number of people being overweight, beauty standards have continually pushed towards normalizing and praising the exact opposite: extreme skinniness. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are particularly responsible for this cognitive dissonance. On these platforms, many users express their desires to be smaller, especially when seeing how negatively overweight people are treated online.

One thing that many people are turning to is the relatively new GLP-1 medication. Some examples of popular GLP-1 medications are Ozempic and Wegovy, but GLP-1’s are now so widespread that you can even order them on Amazon. While being able to access these medications used to be just for medical conditions like diabetes, now practically anyone can get a hold of them if they have a desire to suppress their appetite and lose weight. Even though these medications are more widely available than in the past, they are still relatively expensive—costing around one hundred dollars for just a one-month supply. This is unsustainable for those who can not afford it, especially if their insurance does not cover it.

It may not come as a surprise, but there are associations between poverty levels and increased percentages of people struggling with obesity. Poverty can restrict access to healthy food, making nutritious options less affordable and less available. Additionally, low-income communities are often surrounded by cheap, high-calorie food options like fast food, and lack safe spaces for physical activity. These areas characterized by low-income populations and a dearth of healthy food options are called food deserts. Both economic stress and limited health resources create a perfect storm that increases obesity risks for people with lower socioeconomic status. Besides impacting those struggling with poverty, obesity rates also tend to be higher in Hispanic and Black individuals more than white individuals. Marginalized communities, particularly those who are Black and Hispanic, experience more severe health consequences from obesity due to compounded systemic barriers in healthcare access, economic opportunities, and preventive medical care over white people. Structural racism creates additional barriers, including limited access to healthy food options, fewer safe spaces for physical activity, and healthcare systems that frequently underdiagnose or provide lower-quality treatment for people of color. Marginalized populations are typically the majority in food deserts. These communities can sometimes lack comprehensive health education and culturally competent nutrition resources, creating a cycle of health disparities that perpetuates obesity’s long-term negative impacts. It is apparent that poverty and race have correlations when it comes to obesity, although it has been easiest for white people to access weight loss drugs like Ozempic.

The psychological and mental health impacts of obesity represent another critical aspect of this complex issue. Individuals struggling with obesity often face significant social stigma, discrimination, and mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem. The constant societal pressure to conform to unrealistic body standards, coupled with the widespread discrimination in professional and personal settings, can create a vicious cycle of emotional distress that further complicates weight management. A culture that simultaneously promotes unhealthy eating habits while criticizing body weight creates an unrealistic standard. The social media platform TikTok has specifically been promoting the concept of ‘mukbangs,’ wherein people video themselves eating large amounts of food and post it online. These videos normalize the consumption of large amounts of food, which can contribute to obesity and an increased desire for GLP-1s.

Addressing the obesity epidemic in America requires an approach that goes far beyond individual choices. It demands systemic changes that tackle the root causes of obesity, including economic inequality, healthcare disparities, and deeply ingrained social biases. While medications like GLP-1 drugs offer temporary solutions for some, they are not a universal remedy, especially for those who cannot afford them. Real progress will come from addressing the complex intersections of poverty, race, healthcare access, and nutrition, creating supportive environments that enable healthier lifestyles for all Americans, regardless of their socioeconomic background or community. Until these deeper structural challenges are confronted, the obesity crisis will continue to be a reflection of broader societal inequities, affecting millions of individuals who deserve better opportunities for health and well-being.

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This article was edited by Bowen Yao.