If you’ve spent any time on the "size-inclusive" side of Instagram over the last decade, you know Katie Sturino. She’s the woman who made us feel okay about thigh chafe. She’s the one who stood in front of mirrors in dressing rooms at high-end stores, showing us exactly why their "XL" was a joke. She basically pioneered the idea that you don’t need to wait until you’re a size 2 to start living your actual life.
But then Ozempic happened.
Suddenly, the "body posi" community started looking... different. Thinner. Smaller. The influencers who built their brands on fat liberation were suddenly posting "What I Eat in a Day" videos that looked suspiciously like medical weight loss journeys. The vibe shifted.
Katie Sturino has been incredibly vocal about this. She isn't just "kinda" worried; she’s told major outlets like People that she feels like the conversation around body image has taken "one step forward and 12 steps back." That is a massive statement coming from someone who has dedicated her career to making the world safer for larger bodies.
What Katie Sturino Actually Said About the Ozempic Craze
Let’s get one thing straight: Sturino isn't "anti-medicine." She’s actually remarkably nuanced about the whole thing, which is rare for the internet. In various interviews and on her own platforms, she has described GLP-1 medications—the class of drugs Ozempic belongs to—as a "neutral tool."
She’s not out here shaming people who need the medication for health reasons. Honestly, she’s been pretty clear that if you have a medical need, you should take it and feel zero shame. What actually gets her heated is the "toxic" trend of people in Hollywood—and influencers who don't necessarily have a medical need—using it just to "chase those last 10 pounds."
The "Housewives" Problem
Sturino pointed out a really jarring reality in a 2024 interview: look at the Real Housewives. Where did the body diversity go? It’s basically vanished. She’s noted that it feels like everyone in Hollywood has "gone down a size," and that creates a ripple effect. When we stop seeing diverse bodies on our screens, we start to believe those bodies don't deserve to be there.
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"We were just kind of getting to a place where maybe people were getting a little bit more self-accepting," she lamented. Now? It feels like we’re back in 2004, where "thin is in" and everyone else is just an afterthought.
Is the Body Positivity Movement Dead?
This is the big question. If everyone can just "fix" their body with a weekly shot, do we still need to learn how to love ourselves?
Sturino’s take is a hard yes.
She’s been very open about the fact that weight loss is not a "magic bullet" for happiness. You can lose 50 pounds on Ozempic and still wake up hating your reflection. Why? Because the work of body neutrality—the practice of de-prioritizing your looks and focusing on your worth as a human—doesn't happen in a syringe.
She often shares stories of people who have used these drugs and still don't feel "satisfied." It’s a powerful reminder that the "food noise" might go away, but the "shame noise" usually stays until you actually deal with it.
The "12 Steps Back" Reality
When she says we took 12 steps back, she’s talking about the culture.
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- Size Inclusivity is Stalling: Brands that were finally starting to carry size 24 or 26 are quietly pulling back because they think the "market is shrinking."
- The "Cure" Narrative: Calling Ozempic a "cure" for fatness implies that being fat is a disease that needs to be eradicated, which undoes years of work toward fat liberation.
- The Secrecy: Sturino has expressed frustration with influencers who get smaller and smaller but refuse to talk about how they did it, essentially gaslighting their audience into thinking they just "started drinking more water."
Why Body Neutrality Matters More Than Ever
You’ve probably heard of "body positivity," but Sturino is a bigger fan of body neutrality.
Body positivity says: "I love my rolls! I love my stretch marks!"
Body neutrality says: "This is my body. It gets me from point A to point B. It is the least interesting thing about me."
In the age of Katie Sturino Ozempic debates, body neutrality is the only thing that actually keeps you sane. If your self-worth is tied to your size, and your size is now something that can be manipulated by a drug, your self-worth is officially on a rollercoaster you can't control.
Sturino’s brand, Megababe, is a great example of this. It’s not about looking "better"; it’s about being comfortable. Thigh Rescue isn't a beauty product; it’s a "don't-let-your-skin-scream-at-you" product. That’s the kind of practical self-care she advocates for, regardless of whether you're on a GLP-1 or not.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Stance
People love to put public figures in boxes. They want Sturino to either be "pro-Ozempic" or "anti-Ozempic." She refuses to play that game.
She has admitted that the allure of a "quick fix" is real, even for her. In a moment of total honesty on her Substack and in interviews, she talked about how she once almost clicked through a questionnaire for the drug herself. That’s the "human" part of her writing that resonates so much. She knows the pressure. She feels the same "pang of sadness" we all do when our favorite inclusive creators suddenly change their tune.
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But she also recognizes bodily autonomy.
If a woman decides that a medication is right for her health or her life, Sturino isn't going to picket her house. What she will do is hold the systems accountable. She’s mad at the fashion brands that are giving up on plus-size women. She’s mad at the media for acting like fat bodies are "solved" now.
Actionable Steps for Navigating the "Ozempic Era"
If you’re feeling triggered by the sudden shift in the influencer landscape, you aren't alone. Here is how to handle it, Sturino-style:
- Mute the "Shrinking" Influencers: If someone you followed for body confidence is now posting weight-loss-heavy content and it makes you feel like garbage, hit mute. You don't owe them your attention.
- Focus on Function: Spend a week noticing what your body does for you rather than how it looks. Did it carry your groceries? Did it let you hug your dog?
- Stop the Body Talk: Make a pact with your friends. No talking about weight, diets, or "who's on the O" for an entire dinner. See how much more interesting your conversations get.
- Invest in Comfort: Buy the clothes that fit the body you have today. Not the body you think you'll have in three months. If your thighs rub, get the Thigh Rescue. If your bra hurts, toss it.
The most important takeaway from Katie Sturino’s recent commentary is that you are okay exactly as you are. Whether the world around us is obsessed with a new drug or a new diet, your value hasn't moved an inch.
Don't let the "12 steps back" in the media force you to take 12 steps back in your own self-acceptance. The work of loving yourself is still the most radical thing you can do.