Willpower or Wellness? Mo’Nique’s Warning on GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs

Willpower or Wellness? Mo’Nique’s Warning on GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs

By Phatabulous Magazine

When Mo’Nique speaks, she doesn’t whisper. She testifies.

The Oscar-winning actress and comedian recently shared her concerns about the growing popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, questioning whether we are sacrificing something deeper than pounds on the scale.

“What is the long-term effects? What will it do to your body? Your mind? What will it do to us five years from now, 10 years from now?” she asked in a heartfelt video.

“They’re taking away our willpower. They’re taking away our fight.”

Her message wasn’t just about medication. It was about autonomy. About discipline. About self-trust. And for many in the plus-size community, her words landed heavy.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. They mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite, helping people feel full faster and longer.

In recent years, they’ve become a cultural phenomenon.

Celebrities including Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Vanessa Williams, and Whoopi Goldberg have openly discussed using GLP-1 medications as part of their wellness journeys — often after struggling with weight changes related to aging, hormones, or childbirth.

Medical professionals, like Dr. Melynda Barnes, chief medical officer at Ro, describe these medications as powerful tools when combined with lifestyle changes. Many patients report significant weight loss and improved blood sugar control.

But power always demands responsibility.

Since 2023, class action lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers including Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging severe gastrointestinal side effects such as gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying), as well as other complications including vision issues.

Symptoms linked to gastroparesis can include:

• Persistent nausea
  
  

• Vomiting
  
  

• Bloating
  
  

• Abdominal pain
  
  

• Unintended weight loss
  
  

While many users experience only mild digestive issues that improve over time, others report more serious reactions, particularly at higher doses or after long-term use.

GLP-1 medications were FDA-approved beginning in 2005 for diabetes treatment, but their widespread use for weight loss surged after Ozempic’s rise in popularity around 2017. The long-term impact of using these drugs specifically for weight management is still being studied.

Mo’Nique’s question echoes in that uncertainty:

Are we moving faster than the research?

What made Mo’Nique’s message especially emotional was her reference to Black communities being historically encouraged toward trends and medical decisions that later proved harmful.

“Love yourself enough not to be tricked… because we’re so easily tricked, especially us.”

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A former body positivity influencer recently revealed she regrets aspects of the movement she once championed, and the internet had a lot to say. In this video, we discuss Gabriella Lascano’s journey from rising plus-size content creator to publicly questioning parts of the body positivity movement, along with conversations surrounding Lizzo and her own fitness evolution. At Phatabulous Magazine, we believe in celebrating plus-size women at every stage, whether maintaining, losing, gaining, healing, or redefining themselves. Growth is not betrayal. It’s human. ✨ Watch, reflect, and join the conversation. #Phatabulous #BodyPositivity #SelfLove #PlusSizeWomen #PersonalGrowth

That statement sits inside a complicated history — from medical experimentation to shifting beauty standards imposed on Black women’s bodies.

For decades, plus-size Black women have been hyper-visible yet under-protected. First criticized for being “too much.” Now pressured to shrink.

So when a medication promises rapid transformation, the question becomes: Who benefits most from our smaller bodies?

Here’s where the conversation gets layered.

Is using a medical tool a lack of willpower?

Or is it utilizing available science?

For some, GLP-1 medications are life-changing — reducing inflammation, supporting hormonal balance, and helping break cycles of binge eating rooted in biological hunger signals.

For others, side effects, muscle loss, loose skin, or “Ozempic face” have made them reconsider.

The deeper issue may not be the medication itself — but the mindset driving its use.

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At Phatabulous, we stand firmly on this truth:

Weight loss is not just physical. It is mental. Emotional. Behavioral.

Many people lose weight on GLP-1 medications.

But if your relationship with food doesn’t change…

If your movement doesn’t increase…

If your self-worth is still attached to a dress size…

Then what exactly was healed?

The people who experience lasting results — whether through medication, surgery, or natural methods — are those who change their daily lives. They:

• Eat differently every day, not temporarily.
  
  

• Move their bodies consistently.
  
  

• Address emotional eating.
  
  

• Prioritize feeling better, not just looking better.
  
  

If a medication helps quiet food noise so someone can build those habits — that’s one conversation.

But if it becomes a substitute for inner work — that’s another.

Mo’Nique’s warning isn’t necessarily anti-medicine.

It’s anti-disconnection.

She’s asking us not to trade self-trust for speed.

At 58, after publicly navigating her own 100-pound weight loss journey and lowering her blood pressure through disciplined lifestyle changes, she’s speaking from lived experience. And whether you agree with her or not, the heart of her message is clear:

Don’t get caught up in trends.

Don’t let celebrity culture decide your body.

Research what you put inside yourself.

And most importantly — love yourself enough to think critically.

Ozempic Culture is Here, But What Happens to Body Positivity? (Opinion)

For a moment, it felt like progress was real. Plus-size bodies were visible. Fashion was expanding. Confidence didn’t require shrinking. And then, thin became trendy again. In this video, we talk honestly about Ozempic culture, the quiet rollback of body positivity, and the new pressure plus-size women are feeling to disappear in order to be respected, booked, or believed. This isn’t about shaming medication. It’s about questioning a culture that treats weight loss like morality, and thinness like virtue. We talk about: • GLP-1 drugs and beauty standards • Why weight loss is being framed as “discipline” • The BMJ study nobody’s discussing • Faith, wellness, and body autonomy • Why choice without punishment still matters Your body was never a trend. And your story still matters, at every size. 💬 Join the conversation in the comments 📧 phatabulousmagazine@gmail.com

We support body autonomy.

We support informed decisions.

We support plus-size people choosing what is best for their health.

But we will never support shame — whether it’s shame for being big or shame for choosing medical assistance.

The goal should never be “smaller at any cost.”

The goal should be wellness, strength, confidence, and longevity.

Because your power was never in your pant size.

It was always in your mind.