A conflict over weight loss drugs unfolds
It almost feels like a plot from a satirical novel, but here we are: some left-leaning authors have taken a stand against Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs.
Seriously, who would have thought effective weight loss medications could be labeled as “fascist”?
This rather bold assertion was made during a recent conference in Chicago, organized by Democratic Socialists of America, where a speaker claimed that these drugs are part of a fascist agenda because they are perceived as “genociding fat people,” as reported by a prominent news outlet.
Atlanta activist Da’Shaun L. Harrison argued that the political implications of GLP-1s are fascistic, emphasizing that it’s not just about individuals choosing to take them but about a societal framework that appears to seek the elimination of fat individuals.
Medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, initially developed for diabetes, have become more affordable thanks to changes made during the Trump administration. They are recognized for their potential to reduce the risk of serious health events in vulnerable patients.
However, Harrison disagrees, saying these drugs serve to uphold a social order that monitors and punishes fat people. He claims the concept of “body fascism” is a contemporary issue, not a thing of the past, stating that when governments decide whose bodies are valuable or worthy of protection, it exemplifies body fascism.
Interestingly, Harrison often shares shirtless photos of himself on social media, showcasing his body and, well, his higher body mass index.
In essence, he isn’t thin.
Harrison frequently participates in far-left podcasts and has appeared in a YouTube video by the ACLU, which argued that “anti-fatness is anti-blackness.”
The referenced news outlet characterized him as an “ungendered” author and “trans theorist,” noting that he wrote a book in 2022 tackling the themes of anti-fatness and its intersection with race.
His remarks were delivered at the Socialism 2026 conference, an event attracting over 3,000 attendees with similar socialist ideals. He was even part of a panel discussing “Health Fascism, Body Politics, and the Anti-State State.”
Curiously enough, while being overweight didn’t seem to be a concern for attendees, it was a requirement for everyone to wear masks covering both nose and mouth, hinting perhaps at ongoing caution over Covid-19.
Another speaker, Beatrice Adler-Bolton, added to the discussion by insisting that the notion of being fitter than “the fascists” is unrealistic. She didn’t hold back in offering her views, proclaiming that fitness is merely a reflection of one’s value in a capitalist society.
An analyst shared thoughts about this perspective, suggesting that such comments represent a broader attempt by the far left to dismantle traditional cultural norms. He remarked that these individuals seem unhappy with anything that resembles the common norm, signaling against anything that doesn’t align with their radical vision.
He concluded that the situation has grown so convoluted that medical advancements are being misconstrued as an oppressive force — a kind of twisted ideology that feels almost cult-like.
