We sat down to discuss the recent special by Oprah Winfrey "Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution". We talked about the rise of GLP-1 medications and some of the more troubling trends that have emerged on social media as a result of the popularity and media attention these medications have achieved. We also touched on the societal perception of obesity and the use of these medications.
Social media has the potential to be a force for good, in so many ways. However increasingly we are seeing that it risks trivialising something that is a serious health concern, both on a global and individual scale, whilst simultaneously creating an environment of unrealistic expectations, where rapid weight loss is seemingly promoted.
As GP's both in the private and NHS sectors, helping patients manage their obesity (and its related conditions) is something that has become increasingly part of our daily working lives. Over the last ten years, there has been a conscious effort in the medical community to reframe obesity as a disease, and as Oprah eloquently put it:
"Obesity is a disease, not a character flaw"
