The Shrinking Visibility of Plus Sizes: Lizzo, Ozempic, and a Looming Cultural Shift
By 2025, a fat joke about Lizzo was trending. Not a new song, not a groundbreaking performance, but a joke. This seemingly small incident, as Lizzo herself pointed out, reveals a disturbing undercurrent: a growing societal pressure to conform to a narrower definition of beauty, fueled by weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and a concerning erasure of larger bodies from mainstream representation. This isn’t just about celebrity body image; it’s a signal of a potentially seismic shift in cultural norms and the economic landscape surrounding fashion, media, and even healthcare.
The Ozempic Effect: Beyond Medical Use
Lizzo’s recent commentary, both on Instagram and Substack, highlights a trend she calls the “Ozempic boom.” Originally intended for managing type 2 diabetes, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have become increasingly popular for off-label weight loss. While individual choices are paramount, the widespread adoption – and often, glorification – of rapid weight loss is reshaping beauty standards. The result? A shrinking representation of plus-size individuals in advertising, modeling, and even everyday media. As Lizzo notes, extended sizes are disappearing from websites, and plus-size models are finding fewer opportunities. This isn’t simply about aesthetics; it’s about economic exclusion and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes.
The Economic Impact of a Narrowed Ideal
The plus-size fashion market is a multi-billion dollar industry. According to a report by Coresight Research, the US women’s plus-size apparel market was valued at $98.4 billion in 2022. A decline in representation directly impacts this market, limiting consumer choice and potentially harming businesses that cater to larger sizes. Beyond fashion, the media industry risks alienating a significant portion of its audience by prioritizing a single body type. This creates a feedback loop: less representation leads to increased pressure to conform, further diminishing the visibility of diverse bodies.
Beyond Body Shaming: The Historical Context
Lizzo’s frustration extends beyond simple body shaming. She eloquently articulates how societal expectations force plus-size women into impossible positions. She describes the need to actively combat “mammy” tropes – the desexualized, nurturing archetype historically imposed on Black women – by embracing hypersexuality and boldness. This highlights a crucial point: the policing of bodies isn’t neutral. It’s deeply intertwined with race, gender, and historical power dynamics. The current trend towards thinner bodies isn’t a natural evolution; it’s a continuation of a long history of marginalizing and controlling bodies that deviate from the norm.
The Pressure to Explain Existence
Lizzo’s experience of having her talent overshadowed by commentary on her weight is sadly common. She points out the absurdity of constantly having to justify her existence and her choices – whether it’s a potential BBL, weight loss, or weight gain. This relentless scrutiny underscores the societal obsession with controlling women’s bodies and the expectation that they must constantly prove their worth. The demand for explanation is a form of control, reinforcing the idea that a body is not simply a body, but a project to be managed and optimized.
Looking Ahead: Reclaiming Representation and Redefining Health
The situation isn’t hopeless. Lizzo’s outspokenness, and the growing conversation around body neutrality and body liberation, are crucial steps towards challenging these harmful norms. However, sustained change requires a multi-faceted approach. This includes advocating for greater diversity in media representation, supporting businesses that prioritize inclusivity, and challenging the medicalization of body size. We need to move beyond a narrow definition of health that equates thinness with wellness and embrace a more holistic understanding of well-being. The future of body image isn’t about achieving a single ideal; it’s about celebrating the diversity of human bodies and fostering a culture of acceptance and respect.
What are your predictions for the future of body image and representation in the age of Ozempic? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
