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Topics: News, US News, Celebrity, Health, Weight loss
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: News, US News, Celebrity, Health, Weight loss
Kate Winslet made her feelings clear on the current uptake in people using weight loss drugs and jabs and issued a warning to people considering using them.
Kate Winslet has called the widespread use of weight loss drugs and the culture around it ‘frightening’ in a new candid conversation.
The 50-year-old actress gave an interview to the Sunday Times that was published over the weekend and said she was concerned about the massive uptick in usage.
She suggested that people should not have their self-esteem tied so tightly to their weight or the way they look, arguing that ‘it is devastating and frightening’.
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The star insisted she would prefer people looked and dressed how they wanted without the pressure to be someone else.
She said: “It’s puzzling because I have moments when I think it’s better, when I look at actresses at events dressed how they want, whichever shape.
"But then so many people are on weight-loss drugs. It’s so varied. Some are making choices to be themselves, others do everything they can to not be themselves."
She went on to warn: "And do they know what they are putting in [their bodies]? The disregard for one’s health is terrifying. It bothers me now more than ever. It is f**king chaos out there.”
The FDA has approved six weight loss drugs, the most popular of which are Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound. To be approved, drug manufacturers generally have to submit compelling evidence from two clinical trials proving the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks, which is then reviewed by a team of experts.
Other drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic are not approved as weight loss drugs by the FDA, although they are approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The manufacturers have also spoken out against the misuse of their drugs in this way.
Regardless, they are often used for the key benefit of taking GLP-1 agonists, a type of treatment that mimics the hormone GLP-1.
This hormone helps manage blood sugar levels and can stabilize hunger, making it ideal for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Although there can be side effects for all of the drugs, this month the World Health Organization added GLP-1 agonists to its list of essential medications as a key tool in fighting the obesity crisis.
While speaking on the topic, Winslet also commented that she believes social media is to blame for the negative impact it has had on people’s mental health and their overall idea of beauty and self-worth.
She added: “My favorite thing is when your hands get old.
“That’s life, in your hands. Some of the most beautiful women I know are over 70, and what upsets me is that young women have no concept of what being beautiful actually is.
“What idea of perfection are people aspiring to?”