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To me, weight loss is a private matter. And yet, nearly everyone insists on commenting on it. I've struggled with my weight my whole life. From the time I was a teenager to now, at age 44, I’ve felt pressure to be thinner.
If you’re a yo-yo dieter, you know the drill. You go to a family get-together, and your aunt says, "Oh my, you're getting skinny." Or if the opposite is true, your cousin might say, "Put on a few pounds, didn’t you, honey?"
No one is immune to weight comments. And these days, thanks to Ozempic® stigma, those comments tend to involve more speculation than they used to. So when I started my GLP-1 journey, I decided to be selective about who I would tell.
Perhaps it’s the fact that my mom is always on a perpetual diet. Or that for a lot of people, weight loss injections are considered a luxury. But I suppose my biggest fear around talking about Ozempic with family and friends is that someone will say I'm lazy.
It’s hard, because I know the truth. Choosing to start a GLP-1 is one of the bravest things I’ve ever done. I’m not lazy — I’m taking charge of my health. And I’m getting healthier with each passing week.
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The criticism I hear most often about people taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy® is that they’re taking the easy way out. People question why we don't just eat right, exercise, and work hard like everyone else.
But it’s a lot more complicated than that. Not everyone can lose weight with diet and exercise alone. Genetics plays a big role in weight gain. And so do hormones and life stages like perimenopause.
Obesity is a medical condition that can’t be cured with willpower alone. Some of us have underlying comorbidities like diabetes, high blood pressure, or elevated cholesterol levels, that make weight loss a life-saving measure. My reasons are not just cosmetic, but I worry people will think they are.
As a Latina, I have a unique cultural perspective when it comes to weight loss medications. But really, everyone's experience is unique, and it’s okay if that influences your decision to tell friends and family about Ozempic (or Wegovy, or compounded semaglutide, or Zepbound®).
The truth is, I’m lucky — not only do I have insurance, but my insurance covers my GLP-1 medication. All I pay is a $20 deductible. But not everyone has this luxury. Not everyone has reliable or accessible medical care. Some populations are less likely to have access to doctors who could write a GLP-1 prescription, whether it's a financial situation, a language barrier, or a lack of transportation. And they definitely wouldn't have the funds to purchase brand-name weight loss medication without insurance.
This can lead to a lot of assumptions about people taking weight loss medications. For instance, people might think I have the money to pay out of pocket for a brand-name drug. Then, they might think I'm not spending my money wisely. Or they might assume I'm desperate.
I don’t talk to family members about Ozempic because I would never hear the end of it. I don't want to be physically scrutinized at every family visit to see if I lost (or didn’t lose) weight. I don't want them to expect updates, and I certainly don't want them checking in on me. In a way, this would make the journey all about them.
Some might call this selfish, but I deserve to be. After caring for everyone else as a daughter, mother, and wife, it's time to take care of me.
I can count on one hand the number of people who know I'm taking a GLP-1. So far (I’m still at the beginning of my journey), I’ve only told my husband and one trusted friend. Why? They get it. They would never accuse me of taking the easy way out. They know I'm making changes to better my health — that it's not just about dropping pounds, it’s about improving my quality of life.
While some people are comfortable being completely transparent, I stand by the fact that my journey is no one else's business. The important thing to remember is that you have a choice. Tell. Don’t tell. It’s totally up to you. What matters most is that you’re taking steps to live a healthier life.
Christina Montoya Fiedler is a Los Angeles-based writer and reporter with over 15 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Hearst, Meredith, and Gannett publications, among others, with additional bylines in Forbes Vetted, AP Buyline, and Time Stamped. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis on journalism from Chapman University.
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Dr. Mike Bohl is a licensed physician, the Director of Medical Content & Authority at Hims & Hers, and a member of the Obesity Medicine Association. Prior to joining Hims & Hers, Dr. Bohl worked in digital health at Ro, focusing on patient education, and as the Director of Scientific & Medical Content at a stealth biotech PBC, working on pharmaceutical drug development. He has also worked in medical journalism for The Dr. Oz Show (receiving recognition for contributions from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences when the show won Outstanding Informative Talk Show at the 2016–2017 Daytime Emmy® Awards) and at Sharecare, and he is a Medical Expert Board Member at Eat This, Not That!.
Dr. Bohl obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine from Brown University, his Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership from Cornell University, his Master of Public Health from Columbia University, and his Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies—Journalism from Harvard University. Dr. Bohl trained in internal medicine with a focus on community health at NYU Langone Health.
Dr. Bohl is Certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners, Medical Writer Certified by the American Medical Writers Association, a certified Editor in the Life Sciences by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and a Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist by the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. He has graduate certificates in Digital Storytelling and Marketing Management & Digital Strategy from Harvard Extension School and certificates in Business Law and Corporate Governance from Cornell Law School.
In addition to his written work, Dr. Bohl has experience creating medical segments for radio and producing patient education videos. He has also spent time conducting orthopaedic and biomaterial research at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland and practicing clinically as a general practitioner on international medical aid projects with Medical Ministry International.
Dr. Bohl lives in Manhattan and enjoys biking, resistance training, sailing, scuba diving, skiing, tennis, and traveling. You can find Dr. Bohl on LinkedIn for more information.
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