Experts on eating disorders say the GLP-1 surge and nonstop social media commentary have made body talk more harmful, pushing culture away from 2010s body-acceptance norms and back toward weight-loss idealization.
A 2023 Butterfly Foundation report found 57% of young people were unhappy with their appearance and 49% said it had sometimes kept them from school, underscoring why even “compliments” about weight can backfire.
For casual comments about celebrities, colleagues or acquaintances, clinicians advise disengaging, changing the subject and avoiding public speculation, especially online, where experts say almost all appearance commentary is harmful.
With children or older relatives, experts recommend probing the meaning behind remarks rather than reacting literally, since comments may reflect bullying, learned behavior or generational differences in how body changes are interpreted.
For a friend or close relative, the guidance shifts: be direct and compassionate, focus on isolation or brain fog rather than appearance, and listen before offering solutions.