Thin Is In Again — Are Weight Loss Drugs to Blame?

The Trend: If you’ve noticed women showing off visible collarbones and talking about “2000s skinny” as a goal on social media, that means you’ve encountered SkinnyTok. It’s all part of a broader cultural moment where ultra-thinness is back as a beauty ideal after years of body positivity holding at least some of the spotlight. A big reason this particular thin-is-in cycle feels different, is the popularity of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, which have made dramatic weight loss feel more attainable and celebrity-endorsed. The trend is showing up on the runway as well, with 97.1% of looks last season on models sized 0 to 4. 

What People Are Saying: An obsession with thinness can take a toll on body image and mental health. Experts are especially worried because eating disorders carry one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. And GLP-1s complicate things further because, while some research suggests they may reduce binge eating, clinicians are seeing patients in long-term recovery relapse after starting them since the drugs don’t address the underlying causes of disordered eating.

What To Know: Getting healthy and feeling more comfortable are great goals, but changing your body to fit a trend can lead to unhealthy expectations and behaviors. When it comes to weight loss, your motivations behind it truly matter.