Katie Baker Jones, a fashion expert from West Virginia University, has studied how GLP-1 medications, which affect body weight and perceptions of beauty, may influence the fashion industry. Here are key insights from her research:
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Medical vs. Lifestyle: Unlike typical diet trends, GLP-1 medications represent a medical intervention, blending lifestyle media with medical journalism, complicating public discourse around body image.
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Celebrity Influence: Celebrities discussing their experiences with GLP-1s reveal tensions in body positivity, leading to consumer backlash against those who promote body positivity but use medications for weight loss.
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Gender Disparity: While some male celebrities, like Jim Gaffigan, have openly discussed their use of these drugs, female celebrities like Lizzo face significant public scrutiny, highlighting ongoing gender disparities in societal expectations regarding body image.
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Impact on Fashion Trends: The fashion industry may shift, with fewer ‘curve models’ (sizes above 4) and reduced demand for larger sizes, as there’s an assumption that many will use GLP-1s.
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Evolving Body Trends: Bodies themselves may become fashion trends, raising concerns about the ramifications for body diversity in fashion, and emphasizing the need for industry inclusivity.
Baker Jones emphasizes the importance of learning from past body positivity efforts to ensure diverse representations in the fashion world. Her article titled “My Body Has Gone Out of Style” delves deeper into these issues.
For further reading, see her study: My body has gone out of style, published in Media, Culture & Society.
