How to Cope When Everyone Around You Is on Ozempic
How to Cope When Everyone Around You Is on Ozempic
Written by Ryan Steinberg, MSW Clinical Intern & reviewed by Lily Thrope, LCSW
Why the GLP-1 era feels so loud
Everywhere we look these days, it seems like we see another person who has had a weight loss experience. Celebrities, friends, family members, and even recovery role models you have always looked up to. GLP-1s have made weight loss and the consideration of weight loss medication much more present in everyday conversations.
It’s no longer just celebrities. You may have first started noticing the trend through social media and celebrity content, but now it has become a lot closer to home. You may be noticing body changes in close friends, coworkers, family members, and other people you see regularly. You can no longer just shut off your phone and turn away from it; these changes and conversations can feel like they are everywhere you go. You may even see changes in recovery role models you never expected to participate in the same weight loss culture you worked so hard to move away from.
Conversations around shrinking bodies, appetite, calories, “food noise,” and before-and-after transformations are happening casually and frequently. Even when these conversations aren’t directed at you, repeatedly hearing them can bring up old thoughts and potentially pull you back into a disordered spiral.
The pressure can be everywhere without anyone directly pressuring you. When it seems like everyone’s body is changing, it’s understandable to feel like you should be changing yours, too. This can be especially difficult for those who have worked so hard to step away from diet culture and weight-focused thinking.
The feelings that come up
So, how does this really show up in eating disorder recovery? After working so hard to avoid comparing your bodies to others, seeing bodies changing around you could, of course, bring these thoughts back up. It’s natural to start focusing on others’ bodies when there are so many physical changes suddenly occurring in front of us. And then in turn, we start to pick apart our own bodies.
Just because you’re committed to your recovery doesn’t mean that you won’t be envious of those who have lost weight on a GLP-1. There could be a weird conflict between what is healthiest for your recovery and still wishing you could have what someone else is experiencing. Instead of getting down on yourself for feeling this way, give yourself grace.
Protecting your recovery
Your social media feed doesn’t have to stand in the way of your recovery. It is more than okay to mute or unfollow certain accounts that may not be serving you at this time. This doesn’t have to be permanent; it may just be what you need right now, and that is okay. Remember, you are making these choices for yourself. It’s not personal to whichever celebrity, influencer, or friend you may be unfollowing; their content just may not be supportive of where you are at. Trying to replace this content with things that align more closely with your recovery could also be helpful. There are still plenty of people on social media who are not focused on weight loss or GLP-1s, whose content may leave you feeling empowered rather than triggered.
While you may have more control over your social media feed, conversations in real life can be harder to simply “shut down.” Friends, family members, coworkers, or even people you barely know may casually bring up GLP-1s, weight loss, appetite, or how little they are eating, and you are allowed to set boundaries in those moments. Whoever you are speaking with may not understand why this conversation could be triggering for you, but they don’t have to fully understand to respect your boundary. If it’s something you feel uneasy discussing, you can simply change the subject or say, “I’m trying not to focus on diet or weight conversations right now.” This can feel uncomfortable to bring up with others, but simply shifting the conversation does not require a lengthy explanation. This is you taking control of your recovery and recognizing what feels comfortable for you at this time. You are not telling someone else what they can or can’t do; you are simply deciding what you do and don’t want to engage with.
When it feels like weight loss is the prime focus in your community, it can be hard to remember why you chose to step away from it in the first place. Think about what recovery has given you that has nothing to do with the way your body looks. More freedom around food, more energy, stronger relationships, being more present, less anxiety around meals, or simply having more mental space for the rest of your life. Maybe it’s helpful to reflect on what your life was like before recovery and what pushed you to look for change. It’s normal to feel jealous, curious, or tempted by what you see happening around you, especially when weight loss may have been something you once wanted for yourself. Those feelings do not take away from the progress you have made. Choosing not to act on them and reconnecting with why you chose recovery can help you continue moving toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.
When someone you love starts a GLP-1
The people closest to you may decide to start a GLP-1. That doesn’t mean your relationship has to change, or that you have to start a GLP-1 yourself. Their choice may feel disappointing or difficult at first, especially if they are aware of your recovery journey, but just because they made this decision for themselves does not mean they don’t respect the choices you have made for yourself.
In this situation, try not to turn their changing body into a comparison point for your own. You can also still place boundaries around conversations about their weight-loss journey if those conversations aren’t helpful to you. If they frequently talk about it, you can acknowledge what they’re saying without engaging in the weight-loss aspect. You can emphasize that this boundary is not about judging your loved one for their choice, nor are you asking them to change their decision. All you are asking is for them to be more mindful about how they discuss it with you.
You can still ask how they’re feeling, how they’re doing, or how you can support them without focusing on pounds lost or changes in their body. Supporting someone you love does not mean you have to participate in every part of their journey, especially when doing so could interfere with your own recovery.
How Thrope Therapy helps
If this blog post feels familiar, know that you don’t have to work through these feelings on your own. At Thrope Therapy, we understand how difficult it can be to stay grounded in recovery when conversations about weight loss, changing bodies, and GLP-1s seem to be everywhere. We’re here to help you navigate these outside influences while continuing to focus on what feels supportive for your own recovery.
Recovery looks different for everyone, which is why we take an individualized approach to understanding your relationship with food, your body, and the world around you. Together, we can work toward creating a relationship with yourself that feels less controlled by outside expectations and more aligned with what you truly need. There may be challenging moments along the way, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. We’re here to meet you where you are and help you continue moving toward the version of recovery that feels right for you.
