Weight-loss medications are an important tool for managing Type 2 diabetes, reducing obesity and protecting health. But their growing popularity—driven by social media and celebrity trends—is also spreading harmful messages about body image and quick-fix weight loss.

Overweight and obesity pose serious health challenges for individuals and societies. In recent years, weight-loss drugs have gained significant attention as a medical tool to help people living with Type 2 diabetes manage their condition and reduce the risk of developing serious complications. These medications are also prescribed for people living with obesity to help lower their weight and prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. For those who can afford them, these drugs offer improved health—and hope. But access currently remains largely limited to a privileged few.

Yet we also see celebrities using social media and interviews to showcase their weight loss, attributing it to drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Many people who don’t need weight-loss medication are using so-called “skinny jabs” purchased illegally online—and some even boast about it openly. These illegal weight-loss injections pose a serious health risk. Recently, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) urged South Africans not to be fooled by scams on social media selling falsified Ozempic.

Viral—and harmful 

Those who go viral for their dramatic weight loss—whether through legal or illegal weight-loss injections—risk spreading harmful messages. Their stories often reinforce damaging beauty standards and offer a distorted, unrealistic view of what sustainable, long-term weight loss truly requires, especially for those battling with food, eating, weight and body image.

Weight-loss drugs must be supported by education

At Eating Free, we recognise the value of weight-loss drugs when prescribed by a medical professional for people who genuinely need them. Obesity is a chronic and complex disease. Those living with it need care, support and—in some cases—access to appropriate medication.

But we also believe these medications are only part of a much bigger picture. Without learning new strategies to support long-term health, the risk of regaining weight after stopping the medication is high. A 2021 clinical trial, known as Step 1, found that after 68 weeks of weight loss injections, the average patient lost more than 15% of their body weight, but within 12 months of treatment ending, patients regained two thirds of their prior weight loss on average.

This is why people need both information and support to improve their nutrition and lifestyle—and to successfully make these changes part of their everyday lives so they can maintain the weight they lost and protect their health. 

Challenging stigma, championing dignity

At Eating Free, we also acknowledge the stigma attached to the term ‘obesity’. While it’s a necessary clinical diagnosis for doctors, it can carry judgment and shame for patients. Behind every person struggling with obesity is a human being deserving of dignity, understanding and support.

That’s where our work comes in—off the prescription pad.

Building a healthier relationship with eating and yourself 

Grounded in seven guiding principles, the Eating Free Coaching Programme helps clients build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with food and their bodies. At their own pace, clients are gently guided away from eating patterns that no longer serve them or their health—towards nourishment, self-care and lasting well-being.