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llamaimperative10/11/20241 replyview on HN

Then why are people scrambling for Ozempic? If it were true that "people think being fat is totally fine or desirable now" then this wouldn't be a blockbuster drug.

Weak thesis.


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adventured10/11/2024

Both things are true.

There was a far more vicious shaming culture 50-70 years ago about things like being obese. And culturally it's still looked down upon to be obese, it's just not as acceptable to be vicious about it (and of course sometimes people still are).

Today however there is a lot more "always on" pressure: social media is a huge component to social, social acceptance, socializing, social learning & sharing, getting to date people, et al. That's a form of individually focused media pressure that didn't exist back then. And sure you can turn it off, not partake, but there are usually serious consequences especially for younger people.

That's the context.

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