DRUGS like Ozempic and Mounjaro quickly became Hollywood’s weight-loss tools of choice, with stars like Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey among those who turned to injecting them.
Now, Travis Barker’s daughter Alabama is the latest famous name to admit to using a weight-loss drug, but one nutritionist warned about unique “adverse effects” in teenagers they can face if they accept them.
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In July, a fan reshared a video on TikTok in which Alabama, 18, told followers she was using a weight-loss medication to lose weight.
“I’m taking weight loss pills because I’m tired of being fat and being photographed like a damn ogre,” she said.
“I have a thing where I photograph so ugly and people are like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so fat and so ugly,’” she added.
“It’s like, I see what you’re seeing, but it’s just getting to know me in person. I feel like I don’t really look like that,” Alabama said.
She did not say which weight loss medication she was taking.
However, GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, have become increasingly popular weight loss tools for those who can access them.
Semagultide and tirzepatide regulate blood sugar and typically lead to weight loss.
O FDA approves Wegovy and Zepbound for weight management, while Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved to treat type 2 diabetes.
Nutritionist Rania BataynehMPH, is skeptical about how healthy it is for teens like Alabama to use any of them.
“This seemed confusing and extreme,” she told The US Sun.
“Alabama is 18 years old and not clinically overweight, so he would not normally have access to a prescription weight loss medication.”
She suggested that the drug’s appetite-suppressing effects could cause Alabama to eat too few calories, “which is not a normal, healthy or enjoyable life for any teenager.”
“Weight-loss medications can set teens up for failure in the long run,” Batayneh said.
“This is in terms of weight maintenance, long-term health and mental health issues.
When you add an appetite suppressant and restrict caloric intake, metabolism takes a hit due to young age.
Rania Batayneh
“Drugs like Ozempic should not become a quick fix in this age group.
“Alabama and other teens considering using these medications must learn how to care for themselves appropriately.”
Take a hit
Batayneh urged caution given the impact of drugs like Ozempic on a teenager’s metabolism and eating habits.
“This is a metabolic disturbance in this young age group,” she said.
“This will impact natural metabolic processes and appetite regulation, simply because teenagers burn more naturally.
“When you add an appetite suppressant and restrict caloric intake, metabolism takes a hit because of young age.
“There are also psychological impacts when a teenager does not eat healthily.
“They can develop a bad relationship with food and have adverse effects when they choose to eat.”
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So far, the most well-known names who have admitted to using drugs to lose weight were teenagers, including Kelly Clarkson, 42, Whoopi Goldberg, 68, and Oprah Winfrey, 70.
Whoopi opened up about her weight loss after turning to Mounjaro.
“I’ll tell you, I weighed almost 300 pounds when I did Till,” she said on The View in March.
“I took all these steroids, I was taking all these things, and one of the things that helped me lose weight was Mounjaro. That’s what I use,” she added.
However, there have been increasing reports of teenagers getting their prescriptions filled.
NBC reported on a 16-year-old girl who started taking Wegovy, which is approved for people ages 12 and older, more than a year ago. She lost 58 kilos.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy they spoke to lost 25 pounds using Mounjaro, which his doctor prescribed but which is not FDA-approved for children under 18.
Teen fashion I even spoke to a 12-year-old boy at Wegovy. The teenager has PCOS, which led to rapid weight gain.
OPEN YOUR EYES
The One One One Diet author Batayneh emphasized that teenagers like Alabama should not turn too quickly to “cosmetic” weight loss medications outside of health reasons.
“We can’t imagine what will happen to teenagers who turn to these drugs,” she said.
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“What will we say when they get so thin from using them?
“The solution is not a weight loss injection and this should not be the logical next step.
“If not for obesity or type 2 diabetes, these could be visual beauty and cosmetics-inspired decisions versus health-based decisions.
“Teenagers don’t need to focus on the numbers on the scale or how they look.
“This mentality is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle in adolescence.”
According to a report from JamaIn 2023, almost 31,000 children aged 12 to 17 and more than 162,000 aged 18 to 25 used these medications.
May data showed they were used for diabetes and obesity.
The report also showed that the number of young people aged 12 to 25 using any GLP-1 medication increased from about 8,700 per month in 2020 to more than 60,000 in 2023.
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PARENTAL CONTRIBUTION
Alabama may have gotten the idea to get the vaccine from her mother, Shanna Moakler, 49.
Shanna admitted to taking Mounjaro to lose weight after her parents passed away.
“It was on another level and I didn’t know how to deal with it,” she said People in 2023.
“I was sad. And I missed my parents so much,” Shanna added.
Batayneh suggested that parents should play an important role in their children’s education.
“Her mother takes medication to lose weight, so for Alabama this could be the natural next step,” she said.
Teenagers need a healthier relationship with food because it will prepare them for life.
Rania Batayneh
“Parents should also provide nutritional guidance to their children and suggest exercising at the gym.
“Teenagers should learn to cook or change lifestyle behaviors, and there should be intervention when necessary.
“Teenagers need a healthier relationship with food because it will prepare them for life.”
She said they should not resort to surgeries and medications to lose weight.
“They should try to exercise for half an hour or buy or prepare a healthy meal,” she said.
“Teens could work on going to sleep on time, waking up on time, eating breakfast and eating healthily.”
Rania Batayneh’s Tips for Parents of Teens to Promote Healthy Habits Without Resorting to Weight Loss Injections
- Encourage your child to focus on eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
- Encourage your teen to engage in enjoyable physical activities regularly.
- Foster a supportive environment where your teen feels comfortable in their own skin and focuses on health and well-being, not just appearance.
- Set an example by prioritizing self-care in your own life, as teens often imitate the behaviors they see in their parents.
- Create a safe space for your teen to discuss their feelings about their body and health goals, and listen without judgment.
- Discuss the potential risks and side effects of weight loss injections to help them understand that there are healthier and safer ways to achieve their goals.
Like many other people in her age group, Alabama, who has struggled with thyroid problems, may spend a lot of time online.
She has been busy building her career as a social media influencer and has 2 million followers on Instagram.
Batayneh suggested that focusing on “cosmetic appearance” can be triggering for teens.
USE LOGIC
“Here we have a teenager saying online that she hates the way she looks,” she said.
“She said she is taking medication to lose weight, so people stop talking bad about her.
“It’s an abrupt choice, but many teens who spend a lot of time online may be more likely to focus on cosmetic appearance.
“The solution is not a weight loss injection and this should not be the logical next step.
It is crucial at this early stage of development; it can also affect mental health.
Rania Batayneh
“For some teens, turning to medication to lose weight may be a visual beauty or cosmetics-inspired decision rather than an informed health decision.
“Teenagers who are not overweight may also feel the need to conform to society’s beauty standards and what they see online.
“Ultimately, using injections for weight loss (at any age) can disrupt your metabolism.
‘But it’s crucial at this early stage of development; it can also affect mental health.
“This is especially true for teenagers and young adults.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
